Ask most people what a customs broker does and you’ll get a blank look. Ask a US importer the same question in 2026 and you’ll probably get a long answer.
In 18 months, customs teams have dealt with the end of duty-free de minimis, a Supreme Court ruling, a brand new refund system and a court fight over who gets their money back. Every one of those changes landed on a broker’s desk, and it’s why experienced customs people are in such demand.
How IEEPA tariff refunds and the end of de minimis changed customs brokerage
- 29 August 2025: Duty-free de minimis treatment ended for all countries entering the US. Low-value shipments that used to clear duty-free now need duties paid.
- 20 February 2026: The Supreme Court ruled that tariffs imposed under IEEPA were unlawful. The same day, a new executive order kept the de minimis suspension in place. Importers started asking their brokers what they were owed.
- 17 April 2026: The Court of International Trade ordered CBP to refund IEEPA duties. Brokers began pulling entry data to support refund claims.
- 20 April 2026: CBP opened Phase 1 of its CAPE refund tool in the ACE portal. Importers and authorised brokers started filing CAPE declarations.
- May to August 2026: Around $115 billion in tariff refunds was paid, according to Treasury data reported by the Center for American Progress. That’s refund work at a scale few brokers had seen before.
- 2 June 2026: The government appealed the refund order to the Federal Circuit. The appeal doesn’t challenge the ruling that the tariffs were unlawful. It’s about refunds on finally liquidated entries for importers who haven’t filed their own lawsuits, and a ruling is expected later this year.
- 24 June 2026: CBP wrote the de minimis suspension into its own regulations, so it no longer depends on IEEPA. The statutory exemption is due to be repealed on 1 July 2027.
Not everything went away. Section 232 tariffs on steel, aluminium, autos and parts, and copper, along with Section 301 tariffs, are still in place. So brokers are handling refunds on one set of duties while applying others every day.
Why US customs brokerage workloads keep rising
Rule changes don’t run themselves. Each one means reclassifying products, recalculating duties, correcting entries and explaining all of it to importers who want to know what it means for their costs.
Technology has helped, but only up to a point. In a January 2026 Journal of Commerce feature, customs broker associations said that with tariff rules shifting so quickly, brokers’ automation couldn’t be relied on completely and manual reviews became the norm.
The big forwarders have felt it in their hiring. FreightWaves reported that DHL ramped up hiring of customs agents as importers struggled with new tariffs. Expeditors credited strong demand for customs brokerage when it beat expectations for the fourth quarter of 2025.
Customs broker jobs forwarders are hiring for
- Licensed Customs Broker: responsible for customs business conducted for importers, and the person the team turns to on difficult entries. Usually an experienced entry writer who has passed the Customs Broker License Exam.
- Entry Writer or Customs Brokerage Specialist: prepares and files entries day to day, plus corrections and refund support. Often an import operator with customs exposure.
- Classification Specialist: gets tariff classification right, which now has a bigger effect than ever on what importers pay. Often moves up from entry writing or compliance.
- Trade Compliance Manager: runs compliance programmes and audits and, in aerospace and defence, export controls. Usually a broker or classification specialist stepping up.
- Customs Clearance Specialist (Europe): handles clearance on the European side of the lane. Often an ocean or air import operator.
Customs clearance demand in Germany, Benelux and Australia
Our guide to freight forwarding employers in Hamburg lists Customs Clearance Specialist jobs among the most in-demand roles in the city.
E-commerce rules are tightening in Europe too. The EU agreed a fixed €3 customs duty on small parcels valued under €150 from 1 July 2026, adding to the number of low-value declarations customs teams handle.
In Australia, in-house customs capability is something buyers notice. When AIT Worldwide Logistics announced its acquisition of Connor Anderson International, it highlighted the Sydney forwarder’s experienced customs brokerage team as an uncommon, value-added part of the business.
How to become a licensed customs broker in the US
If you’re an entry writer or import operator in the US, the licence is the step that changes your career. The Customs Broker License Exam runs twice a year, on the fourth Wednesday of April and October, which puts the next one on 28 April 2027. It’s an open-book, 80-question multiple choice exam based on Title 19 of the Code of Federal Regulations. Passing is the first step: you then apply to CBP for the licence, which includes a background investigation.
Already licensed? Check your continuing education. Individual brokers need at least 36 credits per three-year period, and this period’s credits must be completed by 31 January 2027. CBP has warned that missing the requirement will lead to automatic revocation.
What forwarders look for when hiring customs brokers
As we put it in our interview questions guide, customs roles are about accuracy, compliance and knowing the rules cold. If you’re hiring, these are the things worth checking. If you’re a candidate, they’re what to have ready:
- Volume and modes. How many entries a week, and across which modes: ocean, air, truck or all three.
- Systems. Confidence in ACE and the broker software the client runs.
- Classification depth. Whether they can explain a difficult classification decision, not just process one.
- How they handled 2025 and 2026. The best candidates can tell you exactly how they kept importers informed while the rules kept changing.
- Licence status. Licensed, studying or interested. All three can be the right fit, depending on the role.
We’ve recruited customs brokers before: they were among the roles we filled for CLASQUIN’s US expansion in 2025. For senior compliance roles, our executive search team runs confidential searches. Our blogs on recruiting ITAR and EAR leaders and on compliance leaders in German supply chains go deeper on those hires.
Customs broker hiring FAQs
Can customs brokers file IEEPA refund claims for importers?
Yes. Importers and authorised customs brokers submit CAPE declarations through the ACE portal to claim IEEPA duty refunds, which has added a significant workload for brokerage teams in 2026.
Did the Supreme Court ruling remove Section 232 and 301 tariffs?
No. The ruling applied to tariffs imposed under IEEPA. Section 232 and Section 301 tariffs were not affected and remain in place.
When is the next Customs Broker License Exam?
28 April 2027. The exam runs on the fourth Wednesday of April and October, and CBP publishes registration details on CBP.gov ahead of each one.
What happens if a licensed broker misses the continuing education deadline?
Credits for the current period must be completed by 31 January 2027, and CBP has warned that failing to meet the requirement will result in automatic revocation of the licence.
Hiring customs brokers or looking for your next customs role?
We recruit customs brokers, entry writers and compliance professionals across the US, Canada, Germany, Benelux and Australia. Search our latest freight forwarding vacancies or get in touch with our team.
