Amid growing consumer concern over internet privacy and third-party data collection via connected devices, Hamburg, Germany-based privacy protection company eBlocker hit New York Tuesday on an awareness campaign for its router-based privacy technologies that address snooping, dynamic pricing and marketers’ targeting of children. The company is also expanding eBlocker for mobile devices in the next few months and to the enterprise market by year-end, CEO Christian Bennefeld told us.
The National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America endorsed President Donald Trump’s nominee for CBP commissioner, Kevin McAleenan, saying that he understands how to resolve ongoing challenges associated with e-commerce processing, the rollout of ACE and revision of customs broker Part 111 regulations, according to a letter the group sent to the Senate Finance Committee (here). In the letter addressed to committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and ranking member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., NCBFAA President Geoffrey Powell added that McAleenan has demonstrated that CBP can work with its 49 partner government agencies in ensuring that imports meet requirements for health, safety, intellectual property, antidumping and countervailing duty enforcement, and “enlightened labor standards.” McAleenan "has demonstrated leadership within CBP that gives us confidence in the agency and should provide you assurance that it will meet its responsibilities in enforcement and in the facilitation of trade,” Powell said. “NCBFAA is strongly supportive of his nomination.” Powell urged the committee to hold a confirmation hearing “as soon as committee procedures and schedule permit.” Senate Finance didn't comment.
Industry groups asked the U.S. government to work to repeal restrictions on NAFTA drawback and duty deferral and to expand ACE, in response to the Commerce Department’s request for information (here) on regulations that hamper domestic manufacturing. Although negotiators included the drawback and deferral restrictions in NAFTA to prevent China from using Mexico as a platform for component parts to be exported to the U.S., several companies involved in duty preference programs for foreign investors and domestic firms have nevertheless convinced suppliers from Asia and Europe to establish production facilities in Mexico to replace imports from non-NAFTA sources, according to the Duty Drawback Coalition’s comments (here). To counter the negative effects of NAFTA drawback restrictions on foreign-owned manufacturing plants in Mexico, Mexico established Sectoral Promotion Programs, which reduce several standard duty rates, the coalition said. Canada has reduced duty rates to mitigate the effects of the NAFTA drawback restrictions as well, the group said.
NEWPORT, Rhode Island -- The nomination of Acting CBP Commissioner Kevin McAleenan to permanently head the agency represents welcome continuity to CBP and the trade community, government officials and industry executives said at the Coalition of New England Companies for Trade Northeast Trade and Transportation Conference on April 12. For CBP, “having the continuity that he brings from the operational and enforcement piece” and McAleenan’s experience “is going to be great for us,” said Valerie Neuhart, acting director of CBP’s Office of Trade Relations.
International Trade Today is providing readers with some of the top stories for April 3-7 in case they were missed.
Mexico has continued efforts over the past several years to "simplify customs procedures and promote trade," according to the World Trade Organization’s trade policy review of the country released this week (here). Important developments over the past half-decade include the computerization of customs processes in the “Digital Window,” the use of new technologies to inspect imports, and the abolition of the mandatory use of customs brokers, the review said.
NEW ORLEANS -- Section 321 clearance via the Automated Broker Interface is likely years away, but CBP and the trade community are actively considering a multitude of issues surrounding e-commerce and low value shipments, according to trade industry and government officials during a panel discussion at the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America annual conference on April 5. Though short-term solutions for filers and CBP are likely to come earlier, CBP and the trade community need to avoid having those fixes becoming the norm and put the resources into an automated solution that gives customs brokers the same capabilities as others in the supply chain, said Vince Iacopella of Alba Wheels Up.
CBP remains wary of creating a Center of Excellence and Expertise entirely focused on customs brokers, said Rich DiNucci, executive director-cargo and conveyance security at CBP, during the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America annual conference April 4. Despite some early discussion of the possible addition of a CEE to focus on broker management (see 1510210017), CBP isn't inclined to further segment the importing process, DiNucci said. The CEEs will certainly evolve, "but I would say it's much too early to get into that concept now. We'll see where we are three, four years from now."
A U.S. customs broker license isn't necessary to create a tariff classification database, file ruling requests and protests, prepare import manuals or conduct post-entry audit reviews in many cases, CBP said in a Jan. 26 ruling (here). Neville Peterson lawyer John Peterson filed the ruling request on behalf of a Canadian customs consultancy that is working with a multinational chemical company on providing resources related to imports into the U.S. CBP agreed to keep confidential the identifying information of the companies involved in the ruling.
NEW ORLEANS -- CBP is working on a proposed rule to implement new importer validation requirements for customs brokers outlined in the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015, said Steve Hilsen, deputy executive director of CBP’s Trade Remedy & Law Enforcement Division. Hilsen spoke at the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America annual conference on April 5. The proposal, which will be “ready for comment hopefully shortly,” will include information on what brokers will be required to get from new importer clients, including the importer’s address, status of incorporation and information on the individual associated with the broker power of attorney, Hilsen said.