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Tougher rules for US imports on DDP put pressure on buyers and suppliers

US companies buying goods on Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) terms have been urged to examine who is responsible for their customs declarations, after US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) introduced new requirements for foreign importers of record (IORs). The interim final rule, published in the Federal Register last week takes effect on 5 January, with new conditions for foreign IORs making both formal and informal entries into the US, as well as additional verification responsibilities for licensed customs brokers. Under the rule, a foreign IOR validated under the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT) programme can make entries itself, or appoint a licensed customs broker that does not have to be CTPAT-validated. A foreign IOR without CTPAT must designate a broker that is both licensed and CTPAT-validated to make the entry or act as IOR. Where the foreign party is not the owner or purchaser of the goods, the designated broker must act as the importer of record. However, the rule also establishes stricter criteria for determining whether a business qualifies as a US IOR. An individual must be a US citizen or lawful permanent resident, while a company must be organised under US law, located in the country, and at least 51% of its beneficial owners must be US citizens or permanent residents who control the business, or who directly own a significant amount of unencumbered US real estate. Licensed customs brokers will have to verify a client's eligibility before declaring it to be a US IOR. They must request and review supporting records, which could include corporate documents, financial statements, and proof of citizenship or permanent residence. Verification records must then be retained for five years. The development follows CargoTrans's recent tariff webinar, which examined the risks associated with DDP arrangements, noted that in theory an overseas supplier typically arranging import clearance and paying duties and taxes, offered the US buyer a seemingly simpler route to receiving goods. But CargoTrans co-CEO Nunzio De Filippis said the new rule made that convenience harder to achieve, adding: "So that easy button that we spoke about just got harder to press." He advised buyers to establish exactly who is responsible for the import process when their overseas supplier sells on DDP terms. "You have to ask them who is the importer record, who is the customs broker, what does that arrangement look like, and does it meet the new requirements?" he said. "Welcome to the age of strengthening customs enforcement," he added. CBP explained the measures were intended to improve visibility of foreign importers, strengthen accountability, and help ensure duties are collected. The agency highlighted difficulties pursuing unpaid duties and enforcing customs requirements against foreign entities with few US assets. Brokers may request delayed compliance with the new verification requirements before 5 January, but all must be fully compliant by 6 May next year. Comments on the interim final rule are due by 5 January. For US buyers, the update means a DDP quotation alone is no guarantee that the underlying import arrangements meet the new requirements. Buyers should establish who is named as the IOR, which broker is filing the entry, and whether the relevant parties satisfy CBPconditions.

LATAM Cargo to benefit from 90 tons of belly capacity on new São Paulo-Geneva route

LATAM Cargo is set to benefit from up to 91 tonnes of belly capacity on LATAM Airlines Brasil's new direct passenger service between São Paulo and Geneva, launching in March next year. Operating three times a week on Boeing 787-9 aircraft, LATAM Airlines Brasil's service will offer 55 tonnes of weekly capacity on the outbound route from São Paulo to Geneva, enabling cargo originating in Chile, Peru, and Colombia to reach Switzerland through passenger flight connections via the Guarulhos hub, said LATAM Cargo. Outbound flights from South America will drive shipments of dry cargo, components, industrial spare parts, and high-value goods. On inbound flights from Switzerland, the operation will provide 36 tonnes of weekly capacity into South America, catering to IATA CEIV Pharma-certified pharmaceutical shipments, including temperature-controlled medicines. Pharmaceuticals transported by LATAM Cargo between Europe and Brazil grew approximately 150% from January to July compared to the same period last year. Claudio Torres, commercial vice president for South America at LATAM Cargo Group, said: "The opening of this direct route between São Paulo and Geneva represents a major milestone for regional foreign trade. "By connecting LATAM's operating hubs in Brazil, Chile, Peru, and Colombia with the Swiss market through Guarulhos, LATAM Cargo can deliver an efficient, robust, and reliable logistics alternative to South American exporters and importers, significantly reducing transit times and supporting more efficient trade flows across the region." LATAM Cargo noted that by offering a direct connection to Geneva, the service will "also help avoid lengthy road feeder journeys from other European hubs, cutting transit times by at least eight hours and enhancing operational reliability for connected markets such as Germany and Italy". Jorge Carretero, cargo sales director for Europe at LATAM Airlines, said: "The new route by LATAM Airlines Brasil allows LATAM Cargo to commercialise belly-hold capacity and strengthen their commercial offering in Europe. "By eliminating the need for long ground transit routes, LATAM Cargo can offer Switzerland's pharmaceutical and high-value industries a reliable logistics solution supported by CEIV Pharma Certification."

Cargo airline AirRajasthan plans market launch

An Indian cargo airline currently in development aims to connect India, the UAE/GCC, Africa and international markets. AirRajasthan has not announced a specific launch date, according to its LinkedIn profile. "Introducing AirRajasthan - the upcoming First Air Cargo Airline of Rajasthan, bringing a new vision of air cargo connectivity, international trade and logistics excellence," said the airline in a post on the professional networking platform. The airline said on its profile that it will establish hubs in Jaipur and Rajasthan in India, plus Fujairah in the UAE "With Jaipur, Rajasthan, and Fujairah, UAE, as our strategic hubs, we aim to develop an integrated aviation and logistics network that brings together air cargo, charter operations, freight management, ground transportation and end-to-end cargo solutions under one commercial platform," added AirRajasthan. Air Cargo News has requested more information about AirRajasthan's planned launch date, network and fleet. India's air cargo market is expanding, supported by growth in e-commerce, express logistics, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing and international trade. According to provisional figures from India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), scheduled airlines carried approximately 3.11m tonnes of cargo in financial year 2025/26, comprising 978,000 tonnes of domestic freight, up 24% year on year, and 2.13m tonnes of international cargo, an increase of 20.6%. Bengaluru-based Quikjet Cargo Airlines operates domestic and international flights and recently launched flights to Dubai, as well as a Delhi-Guwahati-Hanoi route on behalf of Amazon. Fellow India-based express carrier Blue Dart Aviation offers scheduled domestic freighter flights.