The Federal Maritime Commission said its May rule on detention and demurrage charges (see 2004290037) is helping to reduce unfair penalties imposed by carriers, but industry said the fees are continuing and the FMC’s guidance is not being followed. The rule “at first seemed to be a great victory,” said Rich Roche, vice president of international transportation at Mohawk Global Logistics, speaking during a virtual conference hosted by the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America Sept. 14. But Roche, who is also the chair for the NCBFAA’s Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier Subcommittee, said some carriers increased their demurrage and detention fees the same week the rule was finalized.
An area code overlay coming to the District of Columbia may be one of the most significant in years for major metropolitan areas and could lead to a secondary market for 202 numbers, experts told us last week. The yet-to-be-announced new number will mean 10-digit dialing will be required in the District, a change that will require education, said Betty Ann Kane. She previously chaired the Public Service Commission and the North American Numbering Council (NANC).
Mexican companies are finding they have less time to reform their union relationships than they had thought, and U.S. firms that contract with companies in aerospace, aerospace, auto and auto parts, cosmetics, industrial baked goods, steel, aluminum, glass, pottery, plastic, forgings, cement and mining sectors should be doing due diligence to learn what the plan is to come into compliance. The head of the AFL-CIO recently said they are planning to file a complaint within the month (see 2009040052).
Five people are facing federal charges over allegations of illegal filing of drawback claims, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California said in a news release. An Aug. 12 grand jury indictment, which was unsealed Aug. 25, charged Dale Behm of Shell Knob, Missouri; Yong Heng Liang of Daly City, California; Joshua Stanka of Katy, Texas; Joshua Clark of Fair Oaks Ranch, Texas; and Michael Choy of Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada, “with conspiracy, wire fraud, and related charges related to an alleged scheme to submit fraudulent claims for refunds on import duties,” the release said.
CBP is seeking comments by Oct. 26 on an existing information collection request on customs broker triennial reports, applications for broker permits and licensing exams, it said in a notice Aug. 27. CBP proposes to extend the expiration date of this information collection with no change to the burden hours or the information collected.
Ambiance Apparel and its owner reached a plea agreement with the Department of Justice concerning charges of undervaluing imported garments to avoid customs duty costs, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Central District of California said in an Aug. 26 news release. The Los Angeles company and its owner, Sang Bum Noh, agreed to plead guilty and to pay nearly $118 million, the release said. “Ambiance Apparel -- the operating name for two corporations, Ambiance U.S.A. Inc. and Apparel Line U.S.A., Inc. -- agreed to plead guilty to eight counts, including conspiracy, money laundering, and customs offenses,” it said.
Five people are facing federal charges over allegations of illegal filing of drawback claims, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California said in a news release. An Aug. 12 grand jury indictment, which was unsealed Aug. 25, charged Dale Behm of Shell Knob, Missouri; Yong Heng Liang of Daly City, California; Joshua Stanka of Katy, Texas; Joshua Clark of Fair Oaks Ranch, Texas; and Michael Choy of Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada, “with conspiracy, wire fraud, and related charges related to an alleged scheme to submit fraudulent claims for refunds on import duties,” the release said.
During the second of two hearings aimed at satisfying primarily Florida and Georgia farmers frustrated with lost market share to Mexican competitors, officials from the Commerce Department, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative on Aug. 20 heard vastly different views of how Mexican vegetable and fruit producers deserve to be treated (see 2008180034). Blueberry, zucchini, cucumber and bell pepper farmers from Georgia testified again and again that Mexicans can sell these items cheaper than they can, because of much lower labor prices, because of stricter environmental regulations in the U.S., and because Mexican producers have gotten government help to build shade houses, greenhouses and hoop houses.
An Aug. 20 Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, Department of Agriculture and Department of Commerce virtual hearing on import competition in seasonal produce will include testimony from two Florida and three Georgia members of Congress, a representative of the office of a third Florida Congress member, Farm Bureau executives, and vegetable and berry farmers. It will also include trade groups and a company that oppose restrictions on Mexican produce, among them the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas, the San Diego Customs Brokers Association, and milk and corn exporters. The hearing is the second of two that were originally scheduled to take place in Florida and Georgia in April.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is no longer planning to begin Oct. 1 enforcement of Lacey Act import declaration requirements on 29 new tariff lines, the agency announced recently in an email. The delay “will give the trade community time to recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and prepare for this change,” it said. The agency said in March it planned to implement the sixth phase of Lacey Act import requirements in October (see 2003300011).