International Trade Today is providing readers with some of the top stories for April 15-19 in case they were missed.
Trade associations spent relatively little on lobbying in the first quarter of 2013, according to public records. Groups like the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association, the American Association of Exporters and Importers and the U.S. Association of Textiles and Apparels Importers spent less than $5,000 each. Customs reauthorization, the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill and potential trade agreements were some of the biggest issues trade groups lobbied on in Q1, the records show.
CBP posted an updated version of its test guidelines for the Centers for Excellence and Expertise. The updated version provides some new information on "Revenue Collection" and "Requests to Cancel Participation," among other things.
The National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA) annual conference had about 470 attendees this year, said an association spokesman. The previous year's conference had around 542 attendees. The NCBFAA conference for next year is scheduled for April 6-9 in Las Vegas, Nev., said the spokesman.
April 22 ICC World Trade Agenda Summit, Doha, Qatar (here)
International Trade Today is providing readers with some of the top stories for April 8-12 in case they were missed.
CBP will soon begin accepting applications from customs brokers interested in participating in a new pilot allowing brokers to pre-certify (PC) importers for the existing Importer Self-Assessment (ISA) program. The pilot, which has been on CBP's agenda for some time (see 11082510), is meant to "leverage customs broker relationships to facilitate and promote importer participation" in ISA, the notice said. Participation within ISA among importers has been somewhat lacking, due to what some consider to be an onerous approval process.
A federal jury in Los Angeles awarded leather goods-maker Coach an $8 million judgment against a customs brokerage and its owner for violating trademark and customs laws. According to Coach, Celco Customs and its owner Shen Huei Feng “Celine” Wang acted as broker for importers that it knew were bringing in counterfeit handbags and wallets.
RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. -- The CBP Centers for Excellence and Expertise will eventually open up participation to entire industries, regardless of trusted trader status, said Anne Maricich, director of the Electronics CEE in Long Beach, Calif. "All of the Centers will be expanding and we have a five year charge to take the entire industry," she said. As a result, the agency is working at how to continue to differentiate the trusted trader member benefits from the rest of the industry that will be covered by the CEEs, she said. Maricich also outlined a number of operational details on the CEEs, including how broker penalties and fines will be administered going forward. Maricich discussed the issue while on a panel at the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America conference April 10.
April 15 Mexican Ambassador Eduardo Medina-Mora Icaza speaks at 21st Century Border Initiative event, 12:30 p.m., 729 15th St. NW, Washington (here)