Import Trade Compliance: A Boardroom Imperative in 2026

In today's high-stakes trade environment, import compliance is no longer just a back-office concern, it's a board-level issue for many companies. Although rates have risen and fallen through the year, the net result is that tariffs have escalated to historically high levels, and other specialized tariff programs – such as antidumping and countervailing duty orders – are multiplying. The U.S. government has dramatically escalated enforcement, with Customs and Border Protection scrutinizing entries more aggressively.

Meanwhile, the Department of Justice is prioritizing civil actions, including False Claims Act cases with the potential for treble damages, and new leadership in the DOJ's Criminal Division have made tariff evasion the second-highest enforcement priority, a stunning shift for white collar enforcement.  At the same time, compliance with the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) poses potentially severe risks to global supply chains with connections to China, with detentions and disruptions already impacting major industries. The convergence of criminal liability, financial exposure, and reputational harm makes trade compliance a critical governance issue.

This webinar will equip board members, general counsel, and senior executives with a strategic understanding of:

• The evolving enforcement landscape at CBP
• Changes at the DOJ and the latest civil and criminal enforcement actions
• Key risk areas in global sourcing and responses to higher tariffs
• The board's role in overseeing trade compliance and supply chain integrity
• Practical steps to strengthen governance and mitigate exposure
• Perspectives on how to respond to allegations of tariff evasion