The Federal Maritime Commission is asking for comments on possible changes to its regulations governing Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC) Negotiated Rate Arrangements (NRAs), in a notice published in the April 28 Federal Register (here). Requested in a petition filed April 16 by the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America (here), the changes would expand the NRA exemption for NVOCCs from publishing shipping rates in tariffs to also cover “non-rate economic terms.” Comments are due by June 8.
The recent Federal Maritime Commission report on free time and demurrage fees shows that the agency already has enough information to take action, said dozens of industry groups in an April 27 letter to FMC Chairman Mario Cordero (here). The agency's report, released earlier this month (see 1504140014), outlined several paths of action, but asked for additional industry input. While the report provides a "good foundation," the FMC should "take action to address these issues," said the groups, including the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America and the Consumer Electronics Association.
International Trade Today is providing readers with some of the top stories for April 20-24 in case they were missed.
A controversial case on the liability of compliance and corporate officers for their employer’s customs violations now goes to the Supreme Court justices’ chambers for a decision on whether to hear the appeal, after Harish Shadadpuri, owner of Trek Leather, filed a final brief on April 27 in favor of his petition for certiorari. Shadadpuri's lawyer, Al Daniel, argued that a decision from the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit misinterpreted the customs penalty laws and was unsupported by the facts of the case. Daniel expects a decision from the Supreme Court on whether to consider the case by the end of June.
CBP plans to provide an outline of cargo release processes within the Automated Commercial Environment on May 15, said Steve Hilsen, lead executive of the Single Window Program Office at CBP. Hilsen and ACE Business Office Acting Director Deborah Augustin spoke about Single Window progress at the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America conference on April 22 in Orlando, Florida. Most of the Partner Government Agency functionalities will begin production as of June 27, though there will be some delay in adding non-Lacey Act capabilities for Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Hilsen said. A CBP presentation included a number of "key dates" in preparation of the Nov. 1 requirement for electronic summary and entry filing in ACE (here).
With deadlines for regulations implementing the Food Safety Modernization Act fast approaching and importer compliance with the Foreign Supplier Verification Program required in about two years, the Food and Drug Administration is faced with the increasingly imminent challenge of getting the word out to importers and foreign suppliers tasked with new responsibilities, said FDA officials at a meeting on FSMA implementation on April 23 in Washington, D.C.
The House Ways and Means Committee approved the four major trade bills up for consideration at its April 23 markup, following a full day of debate on the legislation. The committee ultimately sent to the House floor Trade Promotion Authority, Trade Adjustment Assistance, a preference package and a Customs Reauthorization bill. Committee lawmakers approved the same TPA, TAA and preference package bills the Senate Finance Committee endorsed the day before (see 1504230001). TPA passed in a partisan vote, with two Democrats joining Republicans in support. The other three bills passed by voice vote, a committee spokesman said.
ORLANDO, Fla. – The upcoming Food and Drug Administration pilot to test filing and release of FDA-regulated entries in the Automated Commercial Environment will start with drugs before expanding to other products, said Domenic Veneziano, FDA director of import operations, at the annual conference of the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America April 22. The pilot, which will begin July 1, will start at three ports: Baltimore, Otay Mesa and Philadelphia, he said. The agency wants to make sure its IT systems are running smoothly before adding other FDA-regulated products to the pilot, but intends to eventually test all types of commodities before ACE cargo release becomes mandatory in November, said Veneziano. Medical devices will come after drugs in August, he said. Veneziano announced the FDA pilot would begin in July at a webinar last March (see 1503240065).
ORLANDO, Fla. -- CBP and the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America are set to launch the Broker Known Importer Program (BKIP) in the coming week, said agency and trade association leadership at the NCBFAA annual conference on Aug. 22. With functionality in the Automated Commercial Environment in place since January, CBP will issue a CSMS message next week detailing the voluntary program, which will lower the agency’s risk profile for an importer if their broker informs CBP through a flag checked at entry that it “knows” the importer and has advised the importer of its compliance responsibilities. The CSMS message will allow BKIP to “go live,” said Mary Jo Muoio of OHL Trade Services.
International Trade Today is providing readers with some of the top stories for April 13-17 in case they were missed.