The FTC sued alleged text-message spammers and personal data collection website operators, it said Thursday. The U.S.-based defendants named in the eight actions allegedly sent at least 180 million unsolicited text messages alerting recipients that they had won free $1,000 gift cards to stores like Walmart and Best Buy, said Steve Baker, director of the FTC’s Midwest Region, during a press call. The text messages directed recipients to websites where they would have to enter contact and personal information and provide credit card information before they could receive the “free” gift cards, he continued. Baker said the agency received 20,000 complaints about these messages, with additional complaints received by the FCC.
The FTC sued alleged text-message spammers and personal data collection website operators, it said Thursday. The U.S.-based defendants named in the eight actions allegedly sent at least 180 million unsolicited text messages alerting recipients that they had won free $1,000 gift cards to stores like Walmart and Best Buy, said Steve Baker, director of the FTC’s Midwest Region, during a press call. The text messages directed recipients to websites where they would have to enter contact and personal information and provide credit card information before they could receive the “free” gift cards, he continued. Baker said the agency received 20,000 complaints about these messages, with additional complaints received by the FCC.
The U.S. Council for International Business urged Congress to move forward with CBP reauthorization legislation last month, submitting comments to the House Ways and Means committee on the two CBP bills introduced in 2012. USCIB commended various parts of the bills, HR-6642 and HR-6656, including automated commercial environment funding, the appointment of a trade advocate and codification of the Centers for Excellence and Expertise. The group also recommended changes to the bills, such as altering the importer requirements so they're not prohibitive for small and medium enterprises. The group also recommended eliminating what it called the bill’s “overly onerous” provision requiring brokers to collect information on the identity of importers. The group’s complete comments are here. Jerry Cook, chair of USCIB's Customs and Trade Facilitation Committee, said in a press release the group was hopeful the minute differences between last year's bills can be worked out soon. “We cannot afford to let the opportunity to achieve a long awaited customs reauthorization bill pass by.”
CBP posted a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) that outline the procedures and benefits of the mutual recognition program between the U.S. and the European Union. The program was recently implemented and is said to allow for better risk analysis through acceptance of the respective trusted trader programs -- Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) in the U.S. and Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) in the E.U. The FAQs say neither C-TPAT nor AEO customs brokers will directly benefit.
A new CBP reauthorization bill is expected to materialize in the coming months, say industry stakeholders, who are pushing for some changes to the CBP bills introduced last year but say they support those bills overall. The House Ways and Means and Senate Finance Committees are accepting comments on the two bills introduced in December: HR-6642 and HR-6656, which, other than language on antidumping and countervailing, are nearly identical. Observers pointed to new non-resident importer requirements and the severity of penalties allowed for providing inaccurate importer security filing data as parts of the bills they would like changed.
March 3-6 Trans Pacific Maritime conference, Long Beach Convention Center (here)
As technology rapidly changes the role of customs brokers, "importers and exporters will be increasingly dependent on brokers to provide data management, advice on valuation and classification, and to be the gateway to CBP programs," according to a new report on the role of brokers produced by the Pacific Coast Council of Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders (PCC). The report was submitted to Deputy Commissioner David Aguilar as part of its discussion with CBP policymakers over recent months on issues on the Role of the Broker.
CBP posted an updated version of its notice announcing that the next customs broker license exam will be on Wednesday, April 3. The notice provides details about the materials being tested.
The International Freight Forwarders and Customs House Brokers Association of Atlanta changed its name to the Atlanta International Forwarders and Brokers Association to better reflect its location, according to a notice on the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America website.
CBP is seeking feedback from users of the Centers of Excellence and Expertise (CEEs) and posted a link to a survey on the agency's website.