Monday Morning eBriefing

Customs Brokers may be liable for charges under current practices by ocean carriers naming them as “merchant” as listed in terms and conditions of their master bills of lading. The carriers’ intention by use of a broad definition of merchant casts a wide net over multiple parties they can hold responsible for charges related to the bill of lading.

Here is a summary of the latest legislative and regulatory transport, logistics and trade sector updates brought to you by our NCBFAA Transportation Counsel firm Venable:

Every customs broker knows that interacting with Partner Government Agencies (PGAs) can be the most challenging part of their job. The PGA data requirements are often demanding. And, on top of that, there are just so many agencies!

The NCBFAA Transportation Committee’s Logistics Subcommittee is regularly collecting data on the nation’s rail delays and port congestion that are impacting the supply chain and your business operations.

NCBFAA would like to alert our members that to continue to use your new ACE account login after the initial login, you must go in and relink your Legacy ACE account. If you have done so but are now unable to access Legacy ACE and are getting error messages the password for your Legacy ACE account may have expired. Your trade account owner (TAO) should be able to reset your Legacy ACE password, and then you should then be able to log back into Modernized ACE and relink your Legacy ACE account.

An NCBFAA Regulatory Agencies Committee (RAC) Subcommittee met with a team from the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to explore ways to increase the use of e-phytosanitary certificates by the trade.

It may still be cold outside, but let’s not put our momentum to make the Customs Business Fairness Act (CBFA) (H.R. 4186) permanent on ice. We need each of our members to continue reaching out to their Congressional Members on Capitol Hill to let them know just how important this legislation is to our industry.

Here is a summary of the latest customs and cross-border trade regulatory updates brought to you by our NCBFAA Customs Counsel firm Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg:

The NCBFAA Nominating Committee, in accordance with NCBFAA by-laws, has recently completed the 2022 Officers Slate for vote by eligible Regular members by the time of the upcoming Annual Conference.

Here is a summary of the latest customs and cross-border trade regulatory updates brought to you by our NCBFAA Customs Counsel firm Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg:

It has come to NCBFAA’s attention that some of our members (particularly our smaller members) are encountering attempts by ocean carriers to amend, alter or otherwise deviate from agreed-to terms and conditions in valid service contracts. We understand in some cases, carriers are seeking to cancel existing contracts, as well.

Every customs broker knows that interacting with Partner Government Agencies (PGAs) can be the most challenging part of their job. The PGA data requirements are often demanding. And, on top of that, there are just so many agencies!

Max Vekich was sworn-in Feb. 15 as a Commissioner of the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) for a term expiring June 30, 2026.

FMC Commissioner Rebecca F. Dye on Feb. 15 provided guidance on the different ways shippers can pursue demurrage and detention complaints at the Federal Maritime Commission.

Here is a summary of the latest legislative and regulatory transport, logistics and trade sector updates brought to you by our NCBFAA Transportation Counsel firm Venable:

The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) on Feb. 15 published its Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) regarding the regulation of demurrage and detention billing requirements for common carriers and marine terminal operators (MTOs). Interested members of the public must submit comments to the FMC by March 17.

One of the most exciting reasons for NCBFAA members to attend the Annual Conference is to learn who will be your new NCBFAA leadership team.

The NCBFAA Transportation Committee’s Logistics Subcommittee is regularly collecting data on the nation’s rail delays and port congestion that are impacting the supply chain and your business operations.

NCBFAA on Feb. 14 submitted comprehensive comments regarding a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) from the Census Bureau requiring country of origin on Electronic Export Information (EEI) filings.

The Customs Business Fairness Act (CBFA) (H.R. 4186) continues to gain additional congressional co-sponsors which is proof that NCBFAA member voices regarding pending legislation matters to our nation’s lawmakers.