Product Safety

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The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from the risk of injury or death associated with the use of consumer products. In particular, CPSC works to protect consumers from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazards. CPSC’s Compliance Investigators, also known as the “Toy Police,” work closely with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at ports to identify and examine imported consumer products.

If CPSC determines that an imported product is unsafe and violates an applicable statute, CPSC may issue a Letter of Advice (LOA) that identifies the statute and the compliance failure. CPSC may also recommend that CBP seize the products or take other appropriate actions. However, sometimes these LOA and CBP seizures are based on erroneous information or other inaccuracies. In these cases, the experienced attorneys at Barnes Richardson can work with the importer to gather and present evidence of compliance to the CPSC and seek the release of seized property from CBP.

May 7, 2025: CIT Issues Classification Neither Party Advocated
May 1, 2025: A Brief Survey of the IEEPA Legal Challenges
Apr. 30, 2025: CBP Clarifies: In-Transit Tariff Exemption Applies Only to Vessel Shipments
Apr. 29, 2025: Administration to Ease Auto and Parts Tariffs
Apr. 29, 2025: Latest Executive Order Limits Tariff Stacking
Apr. 24, 2025: De Minimis Ending for Goods of China (and Hong Kong)
Apr. 23, 2025: Section 232 Takes on Medium and Heavy-Duty Trucks
Apr. 17, 2025: Another Rapid Response Mechanism Request on the Books
Apr. 16, 2025: Trump Orders National Security Investigation for Critical Minerals
Apr. 10, 2025: EU to Pause Countermeasure Response for 90 Days
Apr. 9, 2025: EU and China Strike Back with Tariffs on U.S. Imports
Apr. 9, 2025: Trump Announces 90-Day Pause on Country-Specific Reciprocal Tariffs
Apr. 8, 2025: White House Indicates China Will Face (at least) 104% Duties
Apr. 8, 2025: Customs Issues "Reciprocal Tariffs" Guidance
Apr. 4, 2025: Tariff Subheading Guidance for ‘Reciprocal Tariffs' Published
Apr. 4, 2025: Global Response to U.S. ‘Reciprocal Tariffs'
Apr. 3, 2025: Correction and Exclusions for ‘Reciprocal Tariffs' Published
Apr. 2, 2025: Trump Announces 25% Tariff on Passenger Vehicles, Light Trucks, and Auto Parts
Apr. 2, 2025: Changes to De Minimis Duty Free Treatment for Good from China and Hong Kong
Apr. 2, 2025: Reciprocal Tariffs Announced
Mar. 27, 2025: President Trump Announces 25% on Autos and Light Trucks
Mar. 25, 2025: 25% Tariffs on Countries that Import Venezuela Oil
Mar. 19, 2025: AD/CVD Petitions Filed for Corrugated Boxes from China and Vietnam
Mar. 13, 2025: Countries Around the World Strike Back at the Trump Administrations Increase in Tariffs
Mar. 11, 2025: U.S. Seeking Broad Trade Agreement with India
Mar. 11, 2025: As Tariffs Loom, Steel and Aluminum Rules Remain in Flux with Lost Exclusions and Increased Duties
Mar. 11, 2025: CBP Guidance on Duties on Imports of Steel and Steel Derivative Products
Mar. 11, 2025: CBP Guidance on Duties on Imports of Aluminum and Aluminum Derivative Products
Mar. 11, 2025: Canadian 50% Steel & Aluminum Tariff Reportedly Averted
Mar. 11, 2025: Steel & Aluminum Derivatives Tariffs Outside Chapters 73 & 76 Effective This Week
Mar. 10, 2025: USTR Announces 2025 Trade Agenda
Mar. 6, 2025: Tariff Exemptions on Mexican USMCA Imports Reported
Mar. 6, 2025: All USMCA Imports Reportedly Exempt from Tariffs
Mar. 6, 2025: USMCA Tariff Exemption Executive Orders Published
Mar. 5, 2025: Senators Revise Plan to Tie Duties to Carbon Emissions
Mar. 5, 2025: Tariffs on Autos Under USMCA from Canada or Mexico Reportedly Suspended One Month
Feb. 4, 2025: Steel and Aluminum: The Gifts That Keep on Giving
Mar. 3, 2025: Timber, Lumber, and Derivatives Get Their Own National Security Investigation
Mar. 3, 2025: Canada and Mexico Duties Deadlines Arrive with No Indications of Delay
Feb. 28, 2025: Trump Indicates Likely March 4, 2025 Duty Increases
Feb. 26, 2025: Updated Guidance on Additional Duties for Imports from China and Hong Kong
Feb. 26, 2025: Copper Gets Its Turn for National Security Treatment
Feb. 24, 2025: Indictments Handed Down in Export Scheme
Feb. 24, 2025: The Next Shoe to Drop? USTR Proposes Actions Against Chinese Ships
Feb. 18, 2025: Preliminary ITC AD/CVD Determinations on Erythritol
Feb. 13, 2025: Trump Announces Marching Order for "Reciprocal Tariffs"
Feb. 11, 2025: Important Changes to Steel and Aluminum Imports into the United States

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Jan. 22, 2025: Webinar: What We Know After the Inauguration
Sep. 9, 2024: McPherson to Co-Moderate Export Enforcement Discussion
Jun. 2, 2023: BRC and Attorneys Ranked in 2023 Chambers Guide
March 3, 2017: Watch the Webinar: Consumer Products Safety and Customs Enforcement at the Border
By: Lawrence M. Friedman
February 14, 2017: BRC, Joern Law Firm to Hold Joint Webinar on Consumer Product Safety Rules and Import Requirements
By: Lawrence M. Friedman