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 ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have continued to postpone their “Container Dwell Fee,” and said they will reconsider its possible imposition on April 8.

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 knows that you as our members are doing their best to keep up with their day-to-day businesses under dire supply chain circumstances, and now add on top of all that the recent flurry of U.S. sanctions imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. What do these sanctions mean to your business (our industry)? Well, it can be an awful lot, depending on whether you work with customers that had export or import business with Russia prior to invasion.

Blockchain remains a critical and increasing part of our industry’s technology lexicon. It is basically a digitally distributed and decentralized public ledger that exists across a network. Blockchain has increasingly become associated with cryptocurrencies.

The NCBFAA Educational Institute has entered a partnership with South Texas College to launch a Certified Customs Specialist Certification program for the college’s students.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said emergency processes that were put in place for U.S. transit of goods to and from British Columbia expired as of March 31 at 12:01 a.m. PT.

We are a month away from this industry’s most informative event—the 49th NCBFAA Annual Conference in Tucson, Arizona! You still have time to register and participate with hundreds of your customs broker and freight forwarder colleagues, but don’t delay. Hotel rooms booked at the special NCBFAA Annual Conference rate for May 1-4 at the JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort and Spa are filling up fast. Once our room allotment is filled, late registrants will pay the regular hotel room rate. We urge you to register today! Once you register for the Annual Conference, NCBFAA will send you a link to make your hotel reservation. If for some reason you know will be attending this event but can’t register yet, please contact Kim O’Beirne at kobeirne@ncbfaa.org for further information. **** Important Registration Information: We would like to remind you that registration is not completed until NCBFAA staff processes your registration which may not be done immediately. Once registration is processed your credit card will be charged and you will receive the hotel reservation link. Please give a couple of days before contacting NCBFAA regarding this. **** When you register, let us know if your company turns 100 years old in 2022 and we will recognize that accomplishment during the Annual Conference. NCBFAA is celebrating its 125th Anniversary this year! NCBFAA has a comprehensive and energized conference program that is guaranteed to greatly inform and expand the knowledge of all attendees! NCBFAA is delighted and honored to announce that Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Chris Magnus will deliver the May 4 luncheon keynote in-person during the Annual Conference. Other top-notch government and industry speakers at this year’s conference will address hot topics such as airport and seaport congestion, latest Customs and Border Protection regulatory and IT activities impacting customs brokers, Federal Maritime Commission actions to try to bring fairness back to ocean container-shipping, and Partner Government Agencies’ involvement in cross-border trade. You can check out our exceptional Annual Conference program here. [Please Note: The NCBFAA is closely monitoring COVID-19 updates and requires all registrants to sign a COVID waiver during the conference registration process. At this time, masks are not required by the hotel or local government, but we will monitor the situation and advise attendees accordingly. Here's the Marriott's COVID Commitment to Clean and the state of Arizona and Pima County COVID requirements.] NCBFAA wishes to especially thank these companies that have already so generously provided the 2022 Annual Conference with sponsorship funding: DIAMOND Avalon Risk Management PLATINUM Roanoke Insurance Group Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A. GOLD Affiliated Presidents Network (APN) ProSight WCA SILVER E2open, LLC EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants International Bond & Marine Brokerage, Ltd. Louisiana Maritime Chamber of Commerce BRONZE Crowley Logistics Descartes Systems (USA) LLC NCBFAA Shippers Association Registrar Corp Venable LLP If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us by phone at (202) 466-0222 or emailing kobeirne@ncbfaa.org. We can't wait to see you at this year's conference!

The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) on March 30 updated its list of aircraft that have flown into Russia in apparent violation of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and the U.S. sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.

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 Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) on Friday, Oct. 10, announced modifications to its Section 301 tariffs on foreign ships calling U.S. ports, effective Oct. 14, as well as the addition of tariffs for container-handling equipment imports.

President Trump in a Truth Social post on Friday, Oct. 10, said that his administration will impose 100% tariffs on China products, “over and above any Tariff that they are currently paying,” by Nov. 1 or sooner, citing an “extraordinary aggressive position” taken by China against the U.S. with new tariffs and increased export controls on rare earth metals.

The NCBFAA Customs Committee and Counsel of Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A., are closing monitoring the imposition of Section 232 tariffs on timber, lumber, and derivative products imported into the U.S., starting for entries made on or after Oct. 14, and proposed Section 232 tariffs for heavy-duty truck imports by Nov. 1. The Committee will provide related Customs and Border Protection (CBP) guidance to our customs broker members as soon as it’s received.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has stepped up outreach to the trade to increase awareness of DEA import and export requirements. DEA officials recently visited several local customs broker associations to spread the word about importer and exporter requirements under the Controlled Substances Act with particular emphasis on chemicals that can be used to manufacture fentanyl.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) during an Oct. 1 call with the trade that no refunds of any type, including drawback, ACH, etc., are part of the excepted functions currently allowed by the agency during the government shutdown since they’re tied to appropriations.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) on Friday, Oct. 10, announced modifications to its Section 301 tariffs on foreign ships calling U.S. ports, effective Oct. 14, as well as the addition of tariffs for container-handling equipment imports.

President Trump in a Truth Social post on Friday, Oct. 10, said that his administration will impose 100% tariffs on China products, “over and above any Tariff that they are currently paying,” by Nov. 1 or sooner, citing an “extraordinary aggressive position” taken by China against the U.S. with new tariffs and increased export controls on rare earth metals.

The NCBFAA Customs Committee and Counsel of Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A., are closing monitoring the imposition of Section 232 tariffs on timber, lumber, and derivative products imported into the U.S., starting for entries made on or after Oct. 14, and proposed Section 232 tariffs for heavy-duty truck imports by Nov. 1. The Committee will provide related Customs and Border Protection (CBP) guidance to our customs broker members as soon as it’s received.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has stepped up outreach to the trade to increase awareness of DEA import and export requirements. DEA officials recently visited several local customs broker associations to spread the word about importer and exporter requirements under the Controlled Substances Act with particular emphasis on chemicals that can be used to manufacture fentanyl.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) during an Oct. 1 call with the trade that no refunds of any type, including drawback, ACH, etc., are part of the excepted functions currently allowed by the agency during the government shutdown since they’re tied to appropriations.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) on Friday, Oct. 10, announced modifications to its Section 301 tariffs on foreign ships calling U.S. ports, effective Oct. 14, as well as the addition of tariffs for container-handling equipment imports.

President Trump in a Truth Social post on Friday, Oct. 10, said that his administration will impose 100% tariffs on China products, “over and above any Tariff that they are currently paying,” by Nov. 1 or sooner, citing an “extraordinary aggressive position” taken by China against the U.S. with new tariffs and increased export controls on rare earth metals.

The NCBFAA Customs Committee and Counsel of Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A., are closing monitoring the imposition of Section 232 tariffs on timber, lumber, and derivative products imported into the U.S., starting for entries made on or after Oct. 14, and proposed Section 232 tariffs for heavy-duty truck imports by Nov. 1. The Committee will provide related Customs and Border Protection (CBP) guidance to our customs broker members as soon as it’s received.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has stepped up outreach to the trade to increase awareness of DEA import and export requirements. DEA officials recently visited several local customs broker associations to spread the word about importer and exporter requirements under the Controlled Substances Act with particular emphasis on chemicals that can be used to manufacture fentanyl.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) during an Oct. 1 call with the trade that no refunds of any type, including drawback, ACH, etc., are part of the excepted functions currently allowed by the agency during the government shutdown since they’re tied to appropriations.