An importer is liable for duties on merchandise that it sought to import in 2019, despite arguing that it didn't consent to having its broker designate it as an importer of record, according to a recent CBP ruling.
As importers, customs brokers and attorneys feel whiplash from the ever-shifting changes in U.S. tariff policy, one particular issue that these stakeholders will continue to grapple with over the coming months is ensuring that importers understand and comply with all the regulations on country of origin, according to experts speaking on a May 30 webinar sponsored by the International Trade Institute titled "Rules, Risk and Reality: How EU Exporters Can Navigate the New US Trade Era."
The emphasis on collecting the revenue generated from the higher tariffs levied during President Donald Trump's second term, as well as the political will behind those higher duties, are compelllng CBP to shift toward prioritizing trade enforcement over trade facilitation, trade experts told International Trade Today.
A California e-commerce solutions provider has been granted a customs broker license, which the company said will enable it to conduct business on behalf of e-commerce merchants. Passport Global of Palo Alto said its new ability to work as a broker complements its existing offerings in logistics and cross-border management.
French privacy regulator CNIL fined Solocal Marketing Services $1 million (900,000 euros) for commercial data prospecting without securing prospects' consent and for transferring their data to partners without a valid legal basis.
Grocery chain Kroger collects vast amounts of personal data about its customers and makes inferences based on it, resulting in different shopping experiences, Consumer Reports (CR) said Wednesday. While Kroger responded that the CR report is misleading, a California legislator said it supports his argument for passing his surveillance-pricing bill.
The American Association of Port Authorities, which represents 80 U.S. ports, told the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative that adding a 100% tariff to ship-to-shore cranes made by Chinese companies or with Chinese components will increase costs for its members without creating domestic manufacturing.
Although the reciprocal tariff for imported Chinese goods may have fallen to 10% for 90 days (see 2505130074), Flexport trade experts advised companies to not treat this action as if there will be an extension. Doing so will prevent companies from having to ask later whether they will have any in-transit exemptions as the 90-day period ends around Aug. 12, according to Angela Lewis, global head of customs for Flexport.
Aegis Security, a customs broker involved in two U.S.-brought suits to collect duties that have gone unpaid for decades (see 2503030043 and 2504180051), moved May 8 for a more definite complaint in one. In the more recent complaint filed this year, Aegis said the government failed to provide an adequately detailed explanation of the facts behind its claim (United States v. Aegis Security Insurance Co., CIT # 25-00051).
Given the fast-evolving trade dynamics in the U.S., some suppliers from China have been advising importers to take advantage of delivered duty paid terms -- which is bad advice and can get companies in trouble with CBP, customs consultant Tom Gould said during a May 13 webinar hosted by Revenue Vessel.