For companies engaged in cross-border trade, customs compliance is a daily challenge shaped by a complex and ever-changing regulatory environment. Although trade flows continued during the recent US government shutdown, some administrative functions operated with reduced capacity, creating bottlenecks.

A January shutdown, coming directly after peak holiday congestion, could further prolong CBP rulings, classification support, and regulatory guidance. Understanding and preparing are essential, not only to weather potential shutdowns, but to ensure resilient and compliant operations year-round.

Rising customs compliance challenges

Many Swedish companies already face customs compliance issues amid government shutdowns, such as:

  • Misclassification of HTS codes, often due to US importers using broader or incorrect categories. 
  • Importers changing HTS codes without notifying the exporter, creating compliance discrepancies and potential audit risks.
  • Insufficient documentation, especially related to origin, valuation, and engineering detail. 
  • Delays in renewing certifications or approvals (for example, FDA registrations), which can create compliance and liability uncertainty and risks for exporters.

These challenges expose Swedish companies to higher duty payments, delays at the border, increased exams, holds, and post-entry audits – challenges that become more pronounced when federal agencies slow operations.

While these compliance hurdles are a constant feature of international trade, the risk of a US government shutdown introduces an additional layer of uncertainty. When federal agencies reduce operations, as seen during the recent shutdown, existing bottlenecks can quickly intensify – delaying rulings, slowing regulatory guidance, and compounding the challenges companies already face.

Government shutdown and trade impacts

The early November shutdown demonstrated that while ports stayed open, the US government’s trade-related administrative operations experienced reduced staffing. CBP’s frontline officers continued processing cargo, but many supporting analysts, legal staff, and regulatory teams were furloughed. This can result in delayed rulings, slower updates to classification guidance, and longer processing times.

For Swedish exporters, the key implication is timing: the US government has only been funded through late January 2026, indicating that another period of reduced government operations is possible early next year. Because this follows closely after Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s – a period that is traditionally the most congested time for US logistics – import delays could compound quickly. Planning shipments earlier and ensuring complete documentation may help reduce risks.

Key actions for Swedish companies:
  • Anticipate potential delays in CBP communications, information updates, and support. It may be useful to build contingency time into Q1 logistics planning.
  • Strengthen compliance packages (for example, origin statements, cost sheets, component lists) to proactively mitigate risk for manual intervention.
  • Monitor federal funding discussions, evaluate January–March shipment windows, and consider whether certain imports can be brought into the US earlier.
  • Ensure correct HTS codes and origin documentation, especially for firms entering the US market or changing suppliers, and strengthen coordination with US importers and customs brokers to ensure accurate classifications.
Get SME tariff support

Under the US-Sweden Tariff Intelligence & Advisory Platform, Business Sweden will host a webinar together with BDG International on 4 December at 15:00 CEST to walk through these risks and provide guidance on how to handle common customs compliance issues. Swedish SMEs may register through the platform here:

Click here to register for the US–Sweden Tariff Intelligence & Advisory Platform

Upon registration on the platform, you may find the link to the event under “Sessions”. We welcome registrations to the platform from large companies.

Get in touch

Business Sweden has extensive experience in tariff scenario analyses, localisation strategies, and supplier evaluations.

To help Swedish SME companies navigate these shifts, Business Sweden has launched the US–Sweden Tariff Intelligence & Advisory platform. The initiative provides real-time tariff updates, practical implementation tools, and access to expert-led sessions and peer learning. It also connects you with vetted customs brokers and logistics partners to support compliance and supply-chain resilience.

If you need support in assessing your supply chain or are interested in joining the platform, please contact Johan Karlberg or Vlad Månsson

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