Plans to reorganize International Traffic in Arms Regulations are ongoing despite what has been a lengthy legal review of the draft rules, a Directorate of Defense Trade Controls official said while speaking July 9 at the Bureau of Industry and Security annual export controls conference. Through a "series of rules we are trying to make the content of the ITAR more linear and more discernable," said Rob Hart, regulatory and multilateral affairs division chief in the Office of Defense Trade Controls Policy.
Wayne Wagner, senior manager for Brokerage Services at FedEx Logistics, died unexpectedly on July 8, the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America said in an email. Wagner was heavily involved in numerous industry groups and was a current board member of the NCBFAA. The NCBFAA said it will send out information about services for Wagner once finalized.
Wayne Wagner, senior manager for Brokerage Services at FedEx Logistics, died unexpectedly on July 8, the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America said in an email. Wagner was heavily involved in numerous industry groups and was a current board member of the NCBFAA. The NCBFAA said it will send out information about services for Wagner once finalized.
Facebook later this month will offer high-profile testimony to Congress, this time on the company’s entry into digital currency markets (see 1906190060). Calibra Head David Marcus is expected before the Senate Banking Committee on July 16 (see 1906190060) and the House Financial Services Committee on July 17.
Facebook later this month will offer high-profile testimony to Congress, this time on the company’s entry into digital currency markets (see 1906190060). Calibra Head David Marcus is expected before the Senate Banking Committee on July 16 (see 1906190060) and the House Financial Services Committee on July 17.
Mexico’s Secretariat of Economy will stop issuing certificates of origin for exports under free trade agreements with the European Union, the European Free Trade Association and Japan, and exporters must instead obtain authorized exporter status to obtain benefits under the agreements, according to a circular from the Mexican Confederation of Customs Broker Associations. Exporters with existing authorizations on the Registry of Eligible Products for Tariff Preferences for Obtaining Certificates of Origin under the agreements will be given an authorized exporter number. Exporters that want to export more types of goods must file new requests in the registry and certify compliance with origin requirements in the Mexican single window, said the circular, which was posted by Mexican consultancy AJR Comercio Exterior. The new scheme will not apply for merchandise subject to some export quotas and some goods listed in an annex to the Mexico-Japan FTA.
Laos recently set new certificate requirements for non-resident importers and exporters that were set to take effect June 27, according to an alert from the law firm Tilleke & Gibbons. Under the new regulation, importers and exporters in Laos that have no registered business in the country will require a Trading Rights Certificate from the Department of Import and Export in order to sell and purchase goods. The goods can’t be sold directly to consumers in Laos, and must be sold through authorized distributors. To be eligible for a certificate, the importer or exporter must operate in accordance with the laws of their country of origin, have not committed an offense or be involved in criminal proceedings related to trade or financial matters, and must come from a World Trade Organization member country.
Mexico’s Secretariat of Finance and Public Credit recently issued its General Foreign Trade Regulations for 2019. Published in three separate parts in the June 24 Diario Oficial, the new 2019 version includes changes to provisions on suspension of import and export permits, and requires from Dec. 1 that importers transmit value declarations electronically through the Mexican single window, according to a summary of the changes from the Mexican Confederation of Customs Broker Associations (CAAAREM) posted by trade consultancy AJR Comercio. The Mexican agency published Annexes 1-A and 22 to the new regulations the following day. Among new provisions of the annexes are changes to guidelines on how to fill out Mexican import and export declarations (i.e., pedimentos) related to a field for declared value, according to another CAAAREM circular.
There remains a portion of the sugar-containing products export quota to the U.S. available "for utilization by Canadian residents on a first-come, first-served basis until the available quantity is fully used or September 30, 2019, whichever occurs first," the Canadian government said in a June 21 notice. Companies must request a shipment-specific import permit from Global Affairs Canada to make use of the available export quota, it said. "To claim the in-quota rate of duty, the eight-digit export permit number issued by the Department on behalf of the Government of Canada must be indicated on the appropriate US Customs entry document. Canadian exporters should provide their US Customs broker with a copy of the export permit prior to the time of export and should retain the original document."
The Court of International Trade upheld Customs and Border Protection denial Monday of EchoStar’s drawback claims as untimely. EchoStar filed the claims for duty refunds worth $276,275.12 in 2014 and early 2015, before new drawback procedures under the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act, including fully electronic filing, took effect. EchoStar transmitted its filing via the automated broker interface within the three-year deadline, but its paper claim, including CBP Form 7551 and supporting documentation, was filed too late, causing CBP to reject the claims. “CBP is ultimately not responsible for EchoStar’s failure to timely file complete drawback claims because of either the Guidance or CBP’s ‘late’ notice to EchoStar to provide additional documents,” said CIT, referring to guidance documents that EchoStar believed meant no paper documentation was necessary. The company had no immediate comment Tuesday.