BGI Worldwide Logistics hired Giselle Rodriguez as an in-house customs broker, the company said in a news release (here). Rodriguez joined the company as its manager, U.S. customhouse broker services and compliance, BGI said. "We are committed to providing the best import/export experiences for our international clients, BGI CEO Gabriel Shweiri said. "We believe that adding a licensed customs broker to our services portfolio delivers an exceptional import logistics capability for our new and existing clients.”
CBP should look at a consignee as the importer of record (IOR) for transactions with the Centers of Excellence and Expertise to allow for express courier broker participation, UPS subsidiary UPS Supply Chain Solutions said in comments to CBP (here). UPS submitted the comments in response to CBP's interim final rule that made regulatory changes for the CEE and went into effect Jan. 19 (see 1612190014). "CBP currently does not obtain the entire importer picture as the CEE is designed without looking at the 'ship to' party (formerly consignee) as the party that caused the importation," the company said. As an "industry sector, we face unique challenges when acting as importer of record," it said.
CBP under the Trump administration should start by addressing several open issues related to imports of goods below the de minimis threshold, the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America said in a letter (here). The NCBFAA wrote to Department of Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly and Steven Mnuchin, the nominee to head the Treasury Department, on Jan. 20 with a list of priorities. The trade group raised concerns about the lack of targeting on goods that are below the de minimis level, which increased to $800 from $200 last year (see 1608250029). Imports below the de minimis level, known as Section 321 releases, can receive faster CBP processing.
President-elect Donald Trump names Reed Cordish, who has directed agency "beachhead" teams, as assistant to the president-intragovernmental and technology initiatives ... Buchanan & Edwards, technology firm with government customers, hires Dennis Kelly, ex-Iomaxis, as president-CEO ... Thumbtack names Laszlo Bock, ex-Google, as strategic adviser ... Hortonworks appointed Raj Verma, ex-Tibco Software, president-chief operating officer ... Comcast hires Kai Bond, ex-Samsung Accelerator, as principal to lead Comcast Ventures Catalyst Fund ... Joining Baidu is Qi Lu, ex-Microsoft, as group president-chief operating officer.
President-elect Donald Trump's transition team trade-related actions so far give a mixed message for how the incoming administration will conduct trade policy, Jon Kent, legislative representative for the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America, said during a Jan. 17 webinar. “Everybody is wondering where things are going, what will happen, and that question is being shared by the Washington so-called ‘insider community,’ that is hearing a great number of mixed messages, different signals, and none of them creating a streamlined pattern for people to follow so that they can speak with any assurance as to what will happen,” he said. Customs policy development will likely be addressed “at a later time” after the Senate confirms top administration personnel into their positions, Kent said.
International Trade Today is providing readers with some of the top stories for 2016 in case they were missed.
The Drug Enforcement Administration is issuing a final rule (here) amending its regulations to require electronic filing of permit applications, import and export declarations, and other required filings and reports for the importation and exportation of controlled substances, listed chemicals, and tableting and encapsulating machines. The agency is eliminating paper filing of most DEA-required submissions entirely, instead requiring importers and exporters to file via the DEA Office of Diversion Control secure network application, it said.
CBP will make numerous regulatory changes to reflect the Centers of Excellence and Expertise as a component of the agency, it said in an interim final rule (here). Among other things, the interim rule officially shifts responsibilities from the port directors to the CEE directors, CBP said. The new rule also describes the process by which importers will be assigned to Centers and the appeals process for their Center assignments, CBP said. The Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act required CBP to implement the CEE (see 1602170074). The interim rule will be effective Jan. 19.
The debate surrounding World Trade Organization compliance of border adjustability provisions being discussed by House GOP leaders will likely center on whether any changes would maintain a U.S. tax deduction for labor costs, said tax analysts in recent interviews. There's a growing discussion over border adjustability provisions mentioned in the House GOP tax blueprint and if such tax changes would violate WTO rules for import and export treatment (see 1612140046). The framework would exempt exports from taxes through rebates while making imports taxable. WTO rules prohibit such a system if part of a direct tax, or income-based, framework. The blueprint tries to steer clear of any violation by employing a “consumption-based” tax approach (see 1612010056). Still, outside observers would likely scrutinize whether any U.S. tax reform actually manifests a pure consumption tax in practice, and look beyond any label that government officials might attach to a proposal, analysts said.
An industry coalition petitioned the Federal Maritime Commission to issue new rules preventing common carriers and marine terminal operators from charging demurrage, detention and per diem fees during events beyond the control of shippers, including port congestion or disruption, bad weather and delays spurred by government action, according to the American Association of Footwear and Apparel (here). The no-charge period would start whenever a circumstance out of the control of shippers, receivers or motor carriers precludes a marine terminal or ocean carrier from tendering cargo or receiving equipment for delivery, according to the proposal. The petition was filed by the Coalition for Fair Port Practices, a group of 25 trade associations including the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA), the AAFA and the National Retail Federation.