Industry representatives of the 15th Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee (COAC) have presented more than 550 recommendations over a six-year period to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) leadership, said COAC Co-Chair Lenny Feldman during a June 23 virtual meeting.

Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) officials joined with customs brokers in a stimulating and informative webinar on CPSC's 1USG Messaging at Import on June 18. CPSC panelists Deputy Director Sabrina Keller and International Trade Specialist John Blachere explained and clarified key elements of their newly implemented messaging system. Customs broker, Adam Lees of Geodis, who has experience with the messaging system since the original pilot was launched over a year ago, shared useful pointers and best practice tips. Mike Lahar of AN Deringer and chairman of the Regulatory Agencies Committee (RAC) kept the conversation moving as moderator, highlighting areas of confusion and concern.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has selected AnnMarie R. Highsmith as executive assistant commissioner and John P. Leonard as deputy executive assistant commissioner of the Office of Trade.

The Florida Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association (FCBF) recently sent a letter to newly appointed Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) Chairman Daniel Maffei outlining ocean container carrier practices which are negatively impacting members and has asked the commission to use its statutory authority to intervene.

NCBFAA President Jan Fields submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in response to its April 21 Federal Register notice to help the agency prepare a report to President Biden on the need for resilient and secure food supply chains.

The Census Bureau, which is tasked with collecting the nation's foreign trade statistics, told representatives of the U.S. export community that it has recently held meetings on a proposed rulemaking to clarify the responsibilities of parties participating in "routed" export transactions.

Customs and Border Protection's Office of International Trade recently updated its list of companies/persons who provide data processing services to the trade community for the Automated Broker Interface (ABI).

The Senate passed the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act on June 8 to help the U.S. compete with China. This included reinstating the expired Generalized System of Preferences program (GSP), the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill program (MTB), and the product-exclusion process for some 301 tariffs.

Oral Argument Held. On June 17, the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) held an oral argument on plaintiffs' motion for a preliminary injunction. The motion sought to create a "stand still" and suspend the liquidation on entries involving the Section 301 duties challenged in the court cases. The motion concerned unliquidated as well as future entries and to avoid irreparable harm by maintaining the status quo. However, it did not address entries that already liquidated as this likely will remain an open issue even if the court grants the injunction.

If you are in the U.S. military reserves, are you eligible to receive your customs broker license?

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.