The Consumer Product Safety Commission plans to test out a “streamlined approach” to filing electronic certificates of compliance in its upcoming pilot program, said Carol Cave, director of CPSC’s Office of Import Surveillance and Inspection, during a webinar on March 12. Agency officials envision a “certificate registry,” where full certificates of compliance containing all required data elements would be filed in advance of entry, said Cave. At time of entry, importers and brokers would then only have to provide a certificate number generated by the registry that would reference the full certificate, she said.
The text of the Trans-Pacific Partnership remains shielded behind closed doors, but U.S. compliance professionals are preparing for the sharp rise in trade flows and increased filing hurdles that are expected to accompany future implementation of the pact, several brokers and compliance consultants said in recent days. TPP chief negotiators are meeting in Hawaii this week, and speculation is rising over a conclusion to the deal. U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman recently predicted a wrap-up of the talks at some point in 2015 (see 1502050058), but the U.S. has failed to meet deadlines set in the past by Froman and other TPP officials.
An importer faces nearly $17 million in penalties for misclassifying Chinese tires under duty free tariff subheadings, according to a complaint filed at the Court of International Trade on March 10. The government says China Tire Warehouse falsely classified its new car and truck tires under HTS subheadings for used tires and forestry vehicle tires, avoiding over $400,000 in duties in the process.
Congress should take up legislation now to simplify the drawback process or the “window for programming drawback simplification into the Automated Commercial Environment” will close, said trade groups in a letter to lawmakers. The letter was signed by American Association of Exporters and Importers and the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America, said the NCBFAA, which described the letter in a notice to members. Industry will have to file through ACE by 2016, the final stage of ACE implementation.
The White House released its Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights Act draft Friday to “establish baseline protections for individual privacy in the commercial arena” for both online and offline data and “foster timely, flexible implementations of these protections through enforceable codes of conduct developed by diverse stakeholders.” Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., industry groups and consumer groups expressed concern with the bill as it includes a provision that could pre-empt strong state laws, such as California’s privacy law, that already protect the privacy rights of consumers. But Microsoft expressed support.
The White House released its Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights Act draft Friday to “establish baseline protections for individual privacy in the commercial arena” for both online and offline data and “foster timely, flexible implementations of these protections through enforceable codes of conduct developed by diverse stakeholders.” Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., industry groups and consumer groups expressed concern with the bill as it includes a provision that could pre-empt strong state laws, such as California’s privacy law, that already protect the privacy rights of consumers. But Microsoft expressed support.
A Department of Homeland Security funding lapse will not stop "front line cargo operations" and import and entry specialists will continue to review entries during that time, said CBP Commissioner Gil Kerlikowske. Kerlikowske discussed the looming shutdown, a result of a fight over DHS funding in congress, with members of the trade industry and reporters in a Feb. 26 call. Despite going without a paycheck during the shutdown, CBP personnel will also be available to answer questions for importers and brokers, he said. DHS funding will stop Feb. 28 unless congress allocates more funding before then.
Triennial status reports from all licensed customs brokers are due to CBP by Feb. 28. Reports can either be submitted in paper to the director of the port that issued the license (see (here) for a suggested format), or online via Pay.gov (here). Each report must be accompanied by a $100 fee. CBP has posted a frequently asked questions page (here) to its website with more information on how to file triennial status reports.
MIAMI -- There's no indication that importers and brokers will not be prepared for the rapidly approaching Automated Commercial Environment deadlines, said CBP Commissioner Gil Kerlikowske in a sit-down interview with International Trade Today on Feb. 24 at the International Chamber of Commerce and U.S. Council for International Business symposium. Kerlikowske said he expects only a “tiny” percentage of traders and brokers will not be ready for the required use of ACE. As of May 1, CBP will require ACE for all electronic manifest filings, while all electronic cargo release and entry summary filings will be required in ACE as of Nov. 1.
A furniture importer is currently pursuing two federal court cases related to the assessment of antidumping duties on an entry where it was incorrectly listed as importer of record, International Trade Today has learned. Following a CBP ruling that held it liable for payment of the 216.01% duty applicable under the AD duty order on wooden bedroom furniture from China (see 1501290028), Lifestyle Furniture filed suit in November at the Court of International Trade to challenge CBP’s denial of its protest. Just under a month later, Lifestyle sued the customs broker that apparently made the mistake on entry documentation, Nestor Reyes, in North Carolina Middle U.S. District Court.