U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a revised version of its informed compliance publication entitled, What Every Member of the Trade Community Should Know About: Vending Machines and Their Parts Under the HTSUS.
In U.S. v. UPS Customhouse Brokerage, Inc., the Court of International Trade ruled against UPS on the issues of misclassification of electronic merchandise; the failure to exercise responsible supervision and control of its customs business as required by 19 USC 1641 ("the broker statute"); and on the number of violations found and the monetary penalties assessed.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted three additional chapters and a table of contents to its "ACE ABI CATAIR" document that it is building to replace the current Customs and Trade Automated Interface Requirements (CATAIR) document.
The Canada Border Services Agency has posted a revised version of its Memorandum of Understanding for its Partners in Protection (PIP) program.
At the request of various Congressional committees, the Government Accountability Office has issued a report entitled "Supply Chain Security: U.S. Customs and Border Protection Has Enhanced its Partnership With Import Trade Sectors, but Challenges Remain in Verifying Security Practices."
Internet-based real estate brokers will have the same access to multiple listing service data as brick and mortar counterparts, subject to technology-neutral limits on displays of listings. A proposed 10-year settlement between the National Association of Realtors and the Justice Department, which requires approval by the U.S. District Court in Chicago, would end a nearly three-year-old legal battle over alleged discrimination against low-cost Internet rivals in the brokerage market. The association said the settlement protects its main goal: limiting access to MLS data to “real estate professionals.”
President Bush and Commerce Secretary Gutierrez recognized 19 U.S. organizations with 'E' and 'E-Star' Awards for their commitment to strengthening U.S.' global competitiveness by expanding their export success. 'E' recipients include Fed Ex Corporation, Johnsonville Sausage, and the Seattle University. (Commerce press release, dated 05/20/08, available at http://www.commerce.gov/NewsRoom/PressReleases_FactSheets/PROD01_006046)
At the April 2008 National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America's Annual Conference, a Food and Drug Administration official spoke about FDA's import initiatives and its Office of Regulatory Affairs' revitalization approach, as follows:
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a proposed rule to amend 19 CFR 111.13 to add three requirements that an individual must satisfy in order to take the written examination for an individual customs broker's license, as administered by CBP.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted four textile and apparel informed compliance publications that were reviewed in May 2008 with no change.