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).
The rules for forced labor documentation will likely become as detailed as the rules on conflict mineral reporting, Angelica Tsakiridis, a senior manager at Deloitte, said July 1 at a virtual conference hosted by the American Importers and Exporters Association. CBP has been working on a rulemaking around forced labor for years (see 1805100026), but it remains to be seen whether documentation requirements will be included.
Large ocean carriers are continuing to use their influence to cause “record high freight rates” for American shipping companies, the Florida Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association said in a letter to the Federal Maritime Commission this month. The association also said that carriers are “frequently” gathering customer information “through their [ocean transportation intermediary] client and then engage in direct competition,” which violates the Shipping Act. “The negative economic impact is real for both OTIs and shippers alike,” the FCBFA said.
Large ocean carriers are continuing to use their influence to cause “record high freight rates” for American shipping companies, the Florida Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association said in a letter to the Federal Maritime Commission this month. The association also said that carriers are “frequently” gathering customer information “through their [ocean transportation intermediary] client and then engage in direct competition,” which violates the Shipping Act. “The negative economic impact is real for both OTIs and shippers alike,” the FCBFA said.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will not begin enforcing its sixth phase of enforcement of Lacey Act declaration requirements July 1, but the agency expects no further delays to implementation (see 2008190010), the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America said in an emailed update June 28. APHIS will publish a Federal Register notice “any day” now announcing that enforcement will begin “on Aug. 1, or 30 days after the Federal Register notice is published,” the NCBFAA said, citing APHIS officials who spoke with an NCBFAA committee.
CBP should incorporate several types of bonds not currently included into the agency’s electronic eBond system, the Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee said in recommendations adopted at the COAC’s June 23 meeting. These bond types include Department of Transportation (DOT) bonds, International Trade Commission (ITC) bonds and intellectual property rights (IPR) bonds, the COAC said.