The Importer’s Most Underrated Strategic Advisor: How the Role of the Licensed Customs Broker Has Changed Forever.
By Nunzio DeFilippis, Co-CEO Cargo Trans
“Suddenly, everyone wants a piece of Nunzio DeFilippis.”
That was the opening line of a Wall Street Journal cover story that ran in April of 2025. While many assumed the article was about tariffs, it was actually about something far more revealing. It spotlighted the Licensed Customs Broker and the role brokers were playing behind the scenes as global trade entered one of the most volatile periods in decades. The story emerged because the reporter, Esther Fong, recognized that as uncertainty intensified, Licensed Customs Brokers were already on the front lines, supporting importers in real time and helping them navigate rapidly shifting rules, pricing pressure, and risk.
Photo by Gabriel Lucindo on Unsplash
The article brought visibility to a profession most people had never given much thought to. For years, importers focused on sourcing, logistics, and pricing while customs clearance was treated as a back-office function. But as tariffs became a defining business issue, a simple truth came into focus. Someone was preparing the tariff bill. Someone was interpreting the rules. Someone was advising importers on exposure, compliance, and risk. That responsibility belonged to the Licensed Customs Broker.
Photo by Getty Images on Unsplash
The comparison to the accounting profession is both natural and overdue. Every individual and business understands the role of a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Accountants are trusted advisors who help quantify tax exposure, reduce liability, identify deductions, and ensure compliance with the law. Their role is respected, well understood, and embedded at the leadership level. The Licensed Customs Broker has now been elevated in a very similar way. The distinction is straightforward. CPAs manage taxes. Licensed Customs Brokers manage tariffs.
As tariffs expanded and enforcement accelerated, the broker’s role evolved rapidly. Today, Licensed Customs Brokers are advising importers on classification strategy, valuation methodology, origin substantiation, and lawful tariff mitigation. We help companies understand not just what they owe, but why they owe it, how exposure can be reduced, and how decisions will hold up under audit. For thousands of importers, the Licensed Customs Broker has become a primary source of guidance in an environment where mistakes are costly and assumptions are dangerous.
This evolution has been driven in large part by enforcement. Customs and Border Protection has collected more than 150 billion dollars in tariffs this year alone, and with that revenue has come a clear mandate to ensure nothing is left uncollected.
CBP has been explicit that its mission is to protect importers who are doing the right thing while aggressively pursuing those who are not. Fraud reporting and suspected tariff-evasion complaints increased by roughly 160 percent in 2025. More than 400 million dollars in unpaid duties were uncovered through cases brought under the Enforce and Protect Act (EAPA) between January and August. The Department of Justice and CBP Trade Fraud Task Force was launched. Detentions under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) climbed from 4,619 in 2024 to 6,636 in just the first half of 2025.
Photo by Getty Images
In this environment, we often tell importers that they must play offense, not defense. Playing offense means being prepared before Customs asks questions, not scrambling after the fact. It means having classifications defensible, valuation methodologies consistent, documentation aligned, and origin claims supported by credible evidence. When Customs requests information, the ability to respond confidently and quickly can determine whether an inquiry resolves or escalates.
Photo by Natalie Pedigo on Unsplash
This is where the Licensed Customs Broker’s role now intersects directly with compliance teams and supply chain leadership. Tariff mitigation and enforcement readiness can no longer exist in silos. They require coordination across sourcing, logistics, compliance, and finance. Brokers are uniquely positioned to connect these functions because tariffs touch every part of the supply chain at once.
It is also why traceability and scientific verification have become essential components of modern compliance strategies. When assumptions are no longer sufficient, importers need data that stands on its own. Partners like GenuTrace provide isotopic origin testing that strengthens an importer’s ability to substantiate origin claims and respond effectively when questions arise, particularly in cotton-rich supply chains facing heightened scrutiny.
The year 2026 represents a clear inflection point. It is the moment for importers to ensure that Licensed Customs Brokers, compliance professionals, and supply chain leaders have a permanent seat at the table. Not as transactional service providers, but as strategic advisors shaping decisions before goods ever move.
The Wall Street Journal cover story did more than capture a headline. It marked the moment when the Licensed Customs Broker stepped into public view as a critical figure in global trade. Brokers were not reacting to the chaos. We were already there, guiding importers through it. And as compliance and tariffs continue to reshape global commerce, the role of the Licensed Customs Broker will only continue to grow in importance.
Image courtesy CargoTrans
Contact us:
Nunzio De Filippis
Co-CEO, CargoTrans | Licensed Customs Broker | Board Member, NY Alliance & Verde Fulfillment USA
Nunzio De Filippis is Co-CEO of CargoTrans and a Licensed Customs Broker since 2005. With over two decades of experience helping global brands, suppliers, and distributors navigate U.S. Customs regulations, Nunzio is known for his practical approach to trade compliance and tariff strategy.
He was recently featured on the cover of The Wall Street Journal (April 2025) and quoted in WSJ Live Market Updates for his leadership in customs brokerage. Nunzio’s LinkedIn commentary on shifting tariff policy was also picked up by LinkedIn Top News, where he is a recognized thought leader.
In June 2025, Nunzio led a series of seminars across Vietnam hosted by the Investment and Trade Promotion Centre (ITPC), advising exporters on how to restructure their supply chains and reduce duty exposure when entering the U.S. market.
He also serves on the boards of the NY Alliance and Verde Fulfillment USA and was honored with SmartCEO’s Family Business and Future50 awards for his leadership in a second-generation enterprise.
Connect with Nunzio:
🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nunzio-d | linkedin.com/company/cargotransinc/ 📧 Email: nunzio@cargotransinc.com
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Contact GenuTrace to start verifying at the source:
📧 sales@genutrace.com | 🌐 www.genutrace.com | 🔗 linkedin.com/company/genutrace
