The Confederation of Mexican Customs Broker Associations (CAAAREM) issued a circular to its members April 2 clarifying entry documentation for goods withdrawn for consumption from Recintos Fiscalizados Estrategicos (free trade zones) that are not adjacent to Mexican customs, according to a blog post from Mexican law firm Consorcio Juridico Aduanero. Responding to CAAAREM’s request for a legal opinion, Mexican customs told the broker group that two “pedimento” entries must be submitted for such goods, both with code “G9,” one for withdrawal from the FTZ and the other for entry for consumption. The ruling is E/800/02/00/00/00/19-3818-2-87, dated March 29, CAAAREM said.
Steel fence posts assembled in Mexico are actually products of the U.S. and are not subject to the Section 232 tariffs, CBP said in a Feb. 27 ruling. The ruling was in response to a request from Alex Romero of A.F. Romero & Co. Customs Brokers on behalf of Merchant Metals that asked CBP to weigh in on whether steel fence posts sent to Mexico for assembly operations could be returned under heading 9802 and whether the return entry triggers Section 232 liability. CBP said the Mexican processing doesn't create a substantial transformation of the posts.
The Confederation of Mexican Customs Broker Associations (CAAAREM) recently issued a circular detailing recent changes to the Mexican customs regulations. The Mexican Tax Administration Service published the notice, the fifth such set of changes to the Mexican Foreign Trade Regulations, on March 30. The CAAAREM circular was posted by Mexican law firm Consorcio Juridico Aduanero.
Severe congestion at the El Paso, Texas, Port of Entry is pushing some traffic to other ports and creating additional delays, C.H. Robinson said an April 8 update. The ports of both Nogales in Arizona and Laredo in Texas are seeing traffic that was diverted from El Paso, the company said. Transportation rates are also growing due to limited truckload availability and increased driver wait times, it said. "Overall, we are seeing a trend of fewer inspections lanes being staffed at the same time volumes appear to be increasing as shippers fear a potential border closure for freight," the company said.
CBP's reallocation of 750 officers from Ports of Entry to Border Patrol is affecting exports from the U.S., according to an April 4 call with CBP officials. According to an emailed write-up of the call from the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America, this "deployment will affect outbound as well, as there is far fewer staff overall." The NCBFAA said that "CBP acknowledged that all southwest cargo ports are being impacted" and "the option is available to direct to other ports, but all will see an expected wait time increase."
Livingston International will take part in blockchain pilot involving the Canada Border Services Agency, the company said in an April 3 news release. The pilot will use TradeLens, a "blockchain-enabled digital shipping solution jointly developed" by IBM and A.P. Moller-Maersk, it said. "Livingston will serve as the first customs broker to leverage the TradeLens platform for brokerage automation," the company said. "Livingston's role in the pilot will be to enter and access information on shipments and streamline internal procedures without compromising accuracy or security. The CBSA is participating in the TradeLens pilot to determine what role the platform could play in its business processes."
Commercial trucks coming into the U.S. from Mexico are facing lengthy delays as CBP shifts port of entry personnel to help with border patrol, according to industry updates. "The result is rapidly changing conditions and very long wait times compared to normal operations," C.H Robinson said in a client advisory with multiple port updates. It appears that policymakers are trying to establish rules that would allow freight to continue to flow while restricting the border for people and passengers." CBP's list of border wait times shows wide disparity in length of waits among the Southern ports, though most of the major ports have some delays.
Livingston International will take part in blockchain pilot involving the Canada Border Services Agency, the company said in an April 3 news release. The pilot will use TradeLens, a "blockchain-enabled digital shipping solution jointly developed" by IBM and A.P. Moller-Maersk, it said. "Livingston will serve as the first customs broker to leverage the TradeLens platform for brokerage automation," the company said. "Livingston's role in the pilot will be to enter and access information on shipments and streamline internal procedures without compromising accuracy or security. The CBSA is participating in the TradeLens pilot to determine what role the platform could play in its business processes."
Several departments are to initiate a broad review of current policies and ways to improve measures to prevent the trade of counterfeit goods, the White House said in an April 3 memorandum. Among other things, the administration would like a review of how different parties, including customs brokers, can help stop the trade of counterfeit and pirated goods, it said. The Department of Homeland Security secretary is tasked with developing a report on the subject within 210 days, along with the attorney general, the U.S. trade representative, the assistant to the president for Trade and Manufacturing Policy and other officials, it said.
Additional reductions to trade processing hours along the Southwestern border are likely as CBP continues to shift port personnel to help deal with illegal border crossings, a CBP spokesman said. CBP is in the process of redirecting 750 officers from Ports of Entry, though CBP is authorized to move even more officers as needed (see 1904010026). Asked about the announced end to Sunday service for commercial truck processing at the Port of Nogales, Arizona, CBP responded that "this may happen at other locations as well as we face resource constraints based on the situation on the ground along the [Southwestern border]."