International Trade Today is providing readers with some of the top stories for 2019 in case they were missed.
International Trade Today is providing readers with some of the top stories for Dec. 23-27 in case they were missed.
CBP scheduled its semiannual customs broker license exams for Wednesday, April 1, and Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020, the agency said in a notice. The exams are typically given on the fourth Wednesday in April and in October. “Due to the limited availability of testing sites and to ensure the integrity of exam conditions by preventing commingling of the administration of the broker exams with other types of exams, CBP has decided to change the regularly scheduled dates of the examination,” the agency said.
International Trade Today is providing readers with some of the top stories for Dec.16-20 in case they were missed.
The announcement of a phase one U.S.-China trade deal that included halving List 4A tariffs in place since Sept. 1 could do little to change damage done to small audio companies smacked by the previous three tranches of tariffs still in place, they said. Executives said in interviews this month have been hit hard by the duties with little hope other than to wait them out.
The Food and Drug Administration is proposing new regulations that would allow importation of prescription drugs from Canada. Under the proposal, FDA would approve “Section 804 Importation Programs” (SIPs) sponsored by a state, tribal or territorial governmental entity. The registered wholesaler or pharmacy identified by the SIP as the importer could then import the specified drug from an FDA-registered, Health Canada-licensed wholesaler that buys the drug directly from its manufacturer. The proposed rule is set for publication in the Dec. 23 Federal Register, and comments are due March 9.
Friday’s announcement of a phase one U.S.-China trade deal that included halving 4A tariffs in place since Sept. 1 (see 1912130042) could do little to change damage done to small audio companies smacked by the previous three tranches of tariffs still in place, they said. Executives we spoke to this month have been hit hard by the duties with little hope other than to wait them out.
A Miami-based customs broker was sentenced to 72 months in prison for his part in a scheme to obtain steep discounts by telling medical device manufacturers they were shipping devices to Afghanistan as aid and military supplies, then diverting the devices to U.S. customers, the Justice Department said in a Dec. 16 press release. Luis Soto had been convicted by a jury after evidence was presented that he was a knowing participant in the scheme (see 1909050023). He will also forfeit $100,000 in proceeds, DOJ said. Byramji Javat, the purported ringleader, had already pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 120 months in prison.
With the announcement of a phase one deal, Flexport chief economist Phil Levy said the promise is for stability in tariff levels -- even if the large majority of goods facing Section 301 tariffs will retain the 25 percent hike. But, he noted in a Dec. 16 webinar, many times over the last eight months, “a deal was announced, and it didn't last. That should sort of serve as a precautionary tale.” Levy, like many observers, doesn't believe that a phase two deal, that could lead to rolling back more tariffs, is likely in the next year.
With the announcement of a phase one deal, Flexport chief economist Phil Levy said the promise is for stability in tariff levels -- even if the large majority of goods facing Section 301 tariffs will retain the 25 percent hike. But, he noted in a Dec. 16 webinar, many times over the last eight months, “a deal was announced, and it didn't last. That should sort of serve as a precautionary tale.” Levy, like many observers, doesn't believe that a phase two deal, that could lead to rolling back more tariffs, is likely in the next year.