Federal regulations don't prohibit the use of electronic signatures for a customs broker power of attorney, but some state regulations governing agency relationships may, CBP told the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America in a July 16 ruling posted by the NCBFAA. Sandler Travis lawyer Lenny Feldman requested a ruling from CBP on behalf of the NCBFAA on the validity of electronically signed POAs. CBP previously said it was working on the issue (see 2103040012).
The National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America is backing CBP's proposed use of Part 102 marking rules to determine the country of origin for non-preferential claims under USMCA (see 2107010045), the trade group said in a July 27 email. CBP proposes to use NAFTA's Part 102 tariff shift marking rules for determining country of origin for non-preferential USMCA claims and government procurement. Some have wondered whether the proposal will prove to be controversial (see 2107070011 and 2107080040).
CBP’s upcoming proposed rule on continuing education for customs brokers is “very close to being signed” by Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, said John Leonard, CBP deputy executive assistant commissioner for trade, July 20 at the agency’s Virtual Trade Week. CBP is “working out” questions from DHS, and hopes to have the notice “out on the street fairly quickly,” Leonard said.
A panel of CBP officials told members of the trade community that they're still considering how to shape a rulemaking based on what they've learned from the Entry Type 86 test and the Section 321 data pilot, but they expect to require 10-digit Harmonized Tariff Schedule codes on de minimis entries that PGAs have an interest in.
The 21st Century Customs Framework task force is looking at changes to CBP’s entry statute and legal provisions on administrative exemptions that would support a reimagined entry process that could bring unprecedented benefits for both enforcement and trade facilitation, agency officials said, speaking during the CBP’s Virtual Trade Week on July 20.
A selling agent working as intermediary between European wineries and U.S. wine wholesalers has enough of a financial interest to be the importer of record, CBP said in a June 30 ruling. Quality Brand Imports requested a ruling from CBP on whether it is able to serve as the IOR even though it never acts as a buyer or takes ownership of the goods, acting only as a facilitator.in the import and sales process.
The Customs Rulings Online Search System (CROSS) was updated July 2 with the following headquarters rulings (ruling revocations and modifications will be detailed elsewhere in a separate article as they are announced in the Customs Bulletin):
A selling agent working as intermediary between European wineries and U.S. wine wholesalers has enough of a financial interest to be the importer of record, CBP said in a June 30 ruling. Quality Brand Imports requested a ruling from CBP on whether it is able to serve as the IOR even though it never acts as a buyer or takes ownership of the goods, acting only as a facilitator.in the import and sales process.
Cynthia Whittenburg, who retired as CBP deputy executive assistant commissioner in the Office of Trade earlier this year (see 2102090059), joined the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America Educational Institute (NEI) as an associate director, the trade association said in an emailed July 6 news release. Whittenburg will “assist in expanding the delivery of our content though institutions of higher learning as well as other appropriate avenues as well as assist in the development of additional courses needed to continue our mission,” NEI Executive Director Kiko Zuniga said. “Some of these courses will deal with current issues such as forced labor, USMCA, to name a few.” While at CBP, Whittenburg helped in examining the need for continuing education requirements for customs brokers (see 1910160056), an issue that CBP is still working on and that the NEI is following closely (see 2105040004).
Cynthia Whittenburg, who retired as CBP deputy executive assistant commissioner in the Office of Trade earlier this year (see 2102090059), joined the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America Educational Institute (NEI) as an associate director, the trade association said in an emailed July 6 news release. Whittenburg will “assist in expanding the delivery of our content though institutions of higher learning as well as other appropriate avenues as well as assist in the development of additional courses needed to continue our mission,” NEI Executive Director Kiko Zuniga said. “Some of these courses will deal with current issues such as forced labor, USMCA, to name a few.” While at CBP, Whittenburg helped in examining the need for continuing education requirements for customs brokers (see 1910160056), an issue that CBP is still working on and that the NEI is following closely (see 2105040004).