Senator Jesse A. Lujan, chair of the Legislature’s Committee on Federal and Foreign Affairs, has requested that U.S. Customs and Border Protection grant Guam a territorial exemption from Executive Order 14324, recently signed by President Donald Trump. The order eliminates de minimis treatment for certain foreign imports, a change Lujan warns could raise costs and disrupt supply chains on the island.
In a letter to CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott, Lujan argued that Guam’s heavy reliance on imports makes the island especially vulnerable to the policy. He noted that about 90% of goods in Guam come from foreign markets, particularly in Asia and the Pacific, and that higher prices would strain local families, small businesses, and military households stationed on the island.
Among the consequences Lujan outlined are increased consumer costs, delays in e-commerce and freight, and added financial pressure on families already coping with shipping inflation. He also emphasized that Guam is already legally classified outside the U.S. Customs Zone, urging CBP to uphold that distinction and authorize a territorial exemption.
“Guam should not be subjected to enforcement policies that ignore our island’s geographic and economic realities. We’re simply asking for fairness, and nothing more,” Lujan said. His request has also been shared with the Office of Insular Affairs and the White House, with a push to add the issue to the upcoming Interagency Group on Insular Areas meeting agenda.