CBP suspended multiple customs brokers from participating in the Entry Type 86 pilot in May, and officials who participated in a background interview recently with International Trade Today said some of those firms haven't been reinstated.
Correction: Speaking on the role of the customs broker as the trade industry adopts use of AI for trade compliance purposes, Lenny Feldman of Sandler Travis said that, while AI is a useful tool, "you still need the customs broker, you still need the intermediary to play a role, to manage that data and make the final decisions as to what data is going to be provided to the government agencies that enforce international trade, particularly CBP," (see 2412090068).
Provide at least 120 days for new data requirements on Russian-caught fish, the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America asked CBP in its comments on new requirements for data submissions to help the government enforce its ban on the importation of Russian-harvested fish.
As customs brokers seek to employ artificial intelligence, expect government regulators to observe but not necessarily hand down heavy-handed guidance on using AI tools to conduct customs business, according to trade and AI experts International Trade Today interviewed.
In response to a Georgia woman’s claim that the customs broker license exam “lacked sufficient information” on four questions, resulting in her failure to pass (see 2402160040), the U.S. said the woman was “entirely incorrect” regarding the questions’ ambiguity (Skeeter-Jo Stoute-Francois v. U.S., CIT # 24-00046).
Shein, which has made its business selling fast fashion from Chinese manufacturers in de minimis packages to American consumers, announced Dec. 19 that it has begun participating in the Section 321 Data Pilot program. The Section 321 pilot is smaller and requires less data than Type 86 filing. The company said it had been participating more than 30 days, and CBP confirmed that it was receiving all the relevant import entry information for the data pilot.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control fined C.H. Robinson, one of the world’s largest logistics firms, more than $250,000 after OFAC said its non-U.S. subsidiaries violated sanctions against Iran and Cuba. The five subsidiaries allegedly provided freight brokerage or transportation services for 82 shipments to or from Iran or involving Iranian or Cuban goods, while one of the companies also did business with sanctioned Iranian airline Mahan Air.
CBP has released its Dec. 11 Customs Bulletin (Vol. 58, No. 49), which contains no ruling actions but includes a notice that CBP granted Proctor & Gamble Lever rule protection against importations of certain anti-dandruff shampoo and conditioner products manufactured in Germany that bear the federally registered and recorded “HEAD & SHOULDERS” trademark. It also includes a notice reminding customs brokers that the annual user fee for 2025 is due no later than Jan. 31. Three Court of International Trade slip opinions also are included.
Flexport employees advised attendees on a webinar this week to prepare for a scaling back of de minimis, in case the rulemaking that removes goods subject to Section 301 tariffs moves forward.
CBP posted the following documents for the Dec. 11 Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee (COAC) meeting: