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ComplianceUSA · imports

Check your Importer of Record before the new US customs rule lands

Amazon has told US sellers to review how their goods enter the country. A rule covering foreign importers of record, stemming from Executive Order 14411 on customs enforcement, is under government review and could move quickly once finalised. Nothing changes today — but brands importing through an overseas entity should look now.

What exactly is changing

  • No effective date has been announced; current import operations continue as normal.
  • Requirements are expected to differ depending on whether your Importer of Record is a US or foreign entity.
  • A foreign IOR could face additional asset, bonding and good-standing provisions.
  • Sellers using a US-based IOR are expected to see fewer changes.
  • Amazon's advice is to prepare now rather than wait for the final text, because the implementation window may be short.

Why this matters for sellers

Nothing is enforceable yet, which is exactly why this is worth acting on. Brands importing through an overseas factory or freight forwarder as Importer of Record are the ones exposed, and switching IOR arrangements is not a same-week job — it involves customs bonds, entity setup and freight contracts. If the rule lands with a short implementation window, the brands that waited will be the ones with stock stuck at the border during Q1.

What to do next

  1. 1Find out, in writing, who is listed as Importer of Record on your current entries — many sellers assume it is them and it is not.
  2. 2If the IOR is a foreign entity, price out what moving to a US-based IOR would involve.
  3. 3Talk to your customs broker about bonding and good-standing requirements before the rule is final.
  4. 4Keep import documentation current so you are not assembling it under deadline pressure.

This summary is written from Amazon's own Seller Central and Amazon Ads announcements and is general guidance, not advice on your specific account. Amazon revises policies, dates and fees regularly and terms differ by marketplace — confirm the current rule in Seller Central for your store before acting on it.