CBP and industry had very little time to react to an executive order earlier this year that authorized export restrictions on certain medical equipment (see 2004080018) and had to scramble to adjust to new protocols, said Paulette Kolba, an export compliance consultant. Kolba, speaking during an Oct. 23 session of the Western Cargo Conference, said the abrupt restrictions were representative of a challenging year for export compliance professionals, who have had to deal with a range of regulatory changes and new compliance requirements.
FBB Federal Relations partner Ray Bucheger told members of the Pacific Coast Council of Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Associations that while the message on the Hill is discouraging on extending current Section 301 exclusions, his firm is working on legislation for the companies that received exclusions too late to get refunds for the tariffs paid.
An advance notice of proposed rulemaking on customs broker continuing education requirements (see 2009140033) is scheduled for publication in the Federal Register on Oct. 28, said John Leonard, CBP executive director-trade policy and programs, during the virtual Western Cargo Conference on Oct. 23. The advance notice will be available for preview on the public inspection site on Oct. 27, he said. “It's a great ANPRM, if I do say so myself.”
Ed Greenberg, a partner with GKG Law who also serves as general and transportation counsel to the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America, is retiring after more than 30 years, the NCBFAA said in an email to members. Greenberg “will finish 2020 with the Association, and transition into retirement at the start of 2021,” the trade group said. “NCBFAA will be continuing on with GKG for the immediate future and doing” a request for proposals “for both positions” in 2021.
The National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America issued a survey Oct. 19 seeking industry feedback on the potential impact of eliminating filing requirements for shipments between the U.S., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Census Bureau issued a pre-rule for the change in September and said it is seeking other ways to collect data normally obtained through the Electronic Export Information filings (see 2009160033). NCBFAA said the impact of removing the requirements “may be negligible for some companies but may have a significant effect on others that handle traffic to these points.” It is asking for help to determine whether “it will be appropriate for NCBFAA to take a position on this matter.”
A CBP review of system issues for customs broker exam takers found few cases of reduced time, the agency said in a CSMS message. CBP recently said there were reports of problems with the electronic test on Oct. 8 (see 2010150034). “A thorough investigation was conducted and it was determined that there was no time lost for the majority of [Customs Broker License Examination] testers,” it said. “This means the majority of testers, regardless of delays[,] had access to the exam for the timeframe allotted.”
Ed Greenberg, a partner with GKG Law who also serves as general and transportation counsel to the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America, is retiring after more than 30 years, the NCBFAA said in an email to members. Greenberg “will finish 2020 with the Association, and transition into retirement at the start of 2021,” the trade group said. “NCBFAA will be continuing on with GKG for the immediate future and doing” a request for proposals “for both positions” in 2021.
An importer’s handwritten corrections on a 1520(d) post-importation claim for U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA) treatments were sufficient, and the Apparel, Footwear & Textiles Center of Excellence and Expertise should not have denied the claim and required submission of a new certificate of origin, CBP headquarters said in a ruling released in early October.
Some Oct. 8 customs broker exam takers experienced problem with the electronic test, CBP said in an Oct. 15 CSMS message. “At some testing locations, applicants encountered system issues, while other applicants tested but did not experience problems and loss of the exam time,” CBP said. The test was held at more than 120 locations, it said. Due to the issues, CBP “is withholding release of the exam content until further notice in an effort to address the concerns,” it said.
There is a desire for more “uniformity” for country of origin and marking under USMCA, similar to the rules in Part 102 of NAFTA, said Heidi Bray, manager-U.S. and global customs compliance for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. Bray and other Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee members mentioned a variety of USMCA “challenges” during the Oct. 7 COAC meeting. She said she thinks it would be a good idea to bring back a USMCA working group to discuss those issues.