Monday Morning eBriefing

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on March 4 said new validation will be added to the processing of the Standard Truck Manifest X.12 transaction set 353 (Events Advisory) and EDIFACT CUSREP (Events Reporting) messages used by the trade to report an in-bond export to the agency.

The FDA launched a pilot program on the process for handling Notices of Refusal. The goal of the pilot is to develop more uniform processes for receiving Notices of Refusal and timely communication between CBP, FDA and the Importer/Broker.

A congressional watchdog agency asked Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in a recent report to do a better job conveying details regarding its import investigations and enforcement actions related to forced labor to other federal agencies involved in trade.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative on March 1 delivered President Biden's 2021 Trade Agenda and 2020 Annual Report to Congress, outlining a comprehensive trade policy in support of the new administration's effort to help the U.S. economy recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

TQL Global, LLC, subsidiary of Total Quality Logistics, the 2nd largest 3PL in the US, is looking for an outside consultant to assist with Ocean Transportation Intermediary operations. If you have any interest in connecting please reach out to patrick.behan@tqlglobal.com.

On behalf of NCBFAA's Board of Directors, Leadership and Staff, we want to take a moment to acknowledge and welcome the following members who have recently joined our association:

Members of the World Customs Organization's Private Sector Consultative Group (PSCG) have recently submitted a paper to the WCO secretary general outlining its views on the AEO Implementation and Validation Guidance.

Due to current port congestion, ocean carriers are issuing split bills on or after arrival. To streamline the updated information for release, the LACBFFA, in collaboration with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in Los Angeles, has reviewed the processing of split bills.

NCBFAA submitted comments in response to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Sept. 23, 2020 Federal Register notice (85 FR 59984) proposing to establish additional traceability recordkeeping requirements for persons that manufacture, process, pack, or hold certain foods that the Agency has designated for inclusion on the Food Traceability List.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently released additional guidance and frequently asked questions to implement an administrative ruling related to domestic warehouses and fulfillment centers.

NCBFAA responded to Customs and Border Protection over numerous "informed compliance" letters issued to customs brokers throughout the country regarding incidents of underpayment of Internal Revenue Tax (IRT) under the Craft Beverage Modernization Act (CBMA).

On behalf of NCBFAA's Board of Directors, Leadership and Staff, we want to take a moment to acknowledge and welcome the following members who have recently joined our association:

NCBFAA joined a broad coalition of American businesses, trade organizations and workers united against tariffs, known as the Americans for Free Trade, last week in urging the U.S. Senate to quickly confirm U.S. Trade Representative nominee Katherine Tai.

Due to international travel limitations, the Small Business Administration's State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) has been updated to increase allowable expenses to support virtual engagement in foreign markets with grants as high as $10,000.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) remaindered importers and customs brokers that the Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) Identifier Format Change will be deployed to the Production Environment (PROD) on April 24.

On behalf of NCBFAA's Board of Directors, Leadership and Staff, we want to take a moment to acknowledge and welcome the following member who have recently joined our association:

Small businesses account for more than 97 percent of U.S. exporters, but are disproportionately impacted by the costs associated with trade and challenges posted by COVID-19. The Small Business Administration's Office of International Trade (OIT) has resources that can help your current or prospective small business clients with their trade journey, including advice and access to funds.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has released a number of FAQs related to its Withhold Release Order (WRO) for cotton, tomatoes and downstream products produced in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR).

The Craft Beverage Modernization Act (CBMA) allows for reduced tax rates for beer and distilled spirts or tax credits for wine covered under 92 tariff numbers under Chapter 22 of the HTSUS. This month, the NCBFAA has received copies of numerous informed compliance letters, requests for information and notices of action from our members across the country regarding misdeclarations under the CBMA. The correspondence identifies entries that were submitted with lower-than-required Internal Revenue Tax (IRT), directing brokers to the TTB's Tax and Free rate table.

TQL Global, LLC, subsidiary of Total Quality Logistics, the 2nd largest 3PL in the US, is looking for an outside consultant to assist with Ocean Transportation Intermediary operations. If you have any interest in connecting please reach out to patrick.behan@tqlglobal.com