The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Office of Business, Industry, and Infrastructure Integration (OB3I) announced the launch of its new National Business Emergency Operations Center (NBEOC) Dashboard.

NCBFAA leaders, led by Legislative Advisor Nicole Bivens-Collinson, canvassed Capitol Hill on Jan. 3 as House and Senate lawmakers returned to Washington, D.C., following the end-of-year recess.

The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) on Jan. 8 announced that they have reached a tentative agreement on all items for a new six-year Master Contract. The two sides agreed to continue to operate under the current contract until the union can meet with its full Wage Scale Committee and schedule a ratification vote, and USMX members can ratify the terms of the final contract.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) on Jan. 7 released “Adapting Trade Policy for Supply Chain Resilience: Responding to Today’s Global Economic Challenges,” a series of six policy papers on trade and investment policy initiatives that promote supply chain resilience.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said the updates separate imported e-cigarette products from all other tobacco products and provide clearer instructions to FDA staff in the field, as well as our federal partners and the wider trade community – including importers, customs brokers, filers, and others.

International trade and customs law firm Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A. (ST&R), announced Jan. 6 that five experienced international trade attorneys from customs law firm The Law Office of Lawrence W. Hanson, P.C. have joined the firm, establishing an ST&R presence in Houston.

On behalf of NCBFAA's Board of Directors, Leadership and Staff, we want to take a moment to acknowledge and welcome Nubian Logistics and Tom Gould Customs Consulting, which have recently joined our association. We're so excited to have these firms join our organization and we are happy to assist in any way we can!

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

According to press reports at the end of 2024, the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX) are expected to resume formal bargaining negotiations on Jan. 7. The NCBFAA Transportation Committee continues to monitor this situation and will provide our members with the most up-to-date information in the weeks ahead.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on Dec. 30 issued CSMS #63564703, which announced that, effective Jan. 1, the severity for AES Response messages 5C2 and 5C3 will be changed from Informational to Fatal.

The NCBFAA Customs Committee and Counsel of Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A., is monitoring on behalf of our customs broker members the recent letters sent to more than 20 countries by the Trump administration calling for the implementation of varying amounts of tariffs to be imposed by 12:01 a.m. ET on Aug. 1, as well as the imposition of 50% tariffs on copper imports. This memo also provides key tariff-related guidance provided to the trade by Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on July 15 will deploy a new drawback claim error message in the ACE production environment.

The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has recently released enhancements and new features on the agency’s website bis.gov.

The U.S. Supreme Court on July 9 lifted a lower court that blocked nearly a dozen federal government agencies from implementing layoffs and reorganizations involving hundreds of thousands of federal workers. The decision paves the way for these agencies to move forward with the reorganization and reduction-in-force plans, as required by Executive Order 14210 issued in March. The reorganization plans have been on hold since the May 2 injunction.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on July 9 announced an immediate shutdown of livestock imports from Mexico after a new world screwworm (NWS) case was reported north of the previous infestations. The announcement came just days after a risk-based phased port reopening strategy for cattle, bison and equine began.

The NCBFAA Customs Committee and Counsel of Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A., is monitoring on behalf of our customs broker members the recent letters sent to more than 20 countries by the Trump administration calling for the implementation of varying amounts of tariffs to be imposed by 12:01 a.m. ET on Aug. 1, as well as the imposition of 50% tariffs on copper imports. This memo also provides key tariff-related guidance provided to the trade by Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on July 15 will deploy a new drawback claim error message in the ACE production environment.

The U.S. Supreme Court on July 9 lifted a lower court that blocked nearly a dozen federal government agencies from implementing layoffs and reorganizations involving hundreds of thousands of federal workers. The decision paves the way for these agencies to move forward with the reorganization and reduction-in-force plans, as required by Executive Order 14210 issued in March. The reorganization plans have been on hold since the May 2 injunction.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on July 9 announced an immediate shutdown of livestock imports from Mexico after a new world screwworm (NWS) case was reported north of the previous infestations. The announcement came just days after a risk-based phased port reopening strategy for cattle, bison and equine began.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) abruptly rescinded its policy allowing de minimis for five product categories — a policy dating back to 1994. This means all shipments of these previously exempt products will now require a PGA Message Set.

The NCBFAA Customs Committee and Counsel of Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A., is monitoring on behalf of our customs broker members the recent letters sent to more than 20 countries by the Trump administration calling for the implementation of varying amounts of tariffs to be imposed by 12:01 a.m. ET on Aug. 1, as well as the imposition of 50% tariffs on copper imports. This memo also provides key tariff-related guidance provided to the trade by Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on July 15 will deploy a new drawback claim error message in the ACE production environment.

The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has recently released enhancements and new features on the agency’s website bis.gov.

The U.S. Supreme Court on July 9 lifted a lower court that blocked nearly a dozen federal government agencies from implementing layoffs and reorganizations involving hundreds of thousands of federal workers. The decision paves the way for these agencies to move forward with the reorganization and reduction-in-force plans, as required by Executive Order 14210 issued in March. The reorganization plans have been on hold since the May 2 injunction.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on July 9 announced an immediate shutdown of livestock imports from Mexico after a new world screwworm (NWS) case was reported north of the previous infestations. The announcement came just days after a risk-based phased port reopening strategy for cattle, bison and equine began.