The costs of using a private, third-party Central Examination Site (CES) designated by CBP should be the responsibility of the importer, rather than the customs broker, said Cataract Customs Brokers in comments to CBP. The comments were filed in response to a seemingly unconnected Federal Register notice announcing the date and agenda for the Dec. 4 meeting of the Advisory Committee for Commercial Operations (COAC).
CBP announced that the 2013 annual user fee of $138 for each customs broker permit and national permit held by an individual, partnership, association, or corporation is due by Feb. 15.
Though neither side has confirmed that East Coast and Gulf longshoremen have voted to strike, and talks continue under the auspices of the Federal Mediation & Conciliation Service, shippers and retailers are beginning to prepare for a possible International Longshoremen's Association strike at the end of the year. Though the contract expires Dec. 29, the betting is that the strike wouldn't begin until after the paid New Year's holidays.
The legislation introduced Dec. 7 by House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-Texas) to modernize CBP and other customs-related agencies would add several new provisions meant to allow CBP to better enforce intellectual property laws. The bill, HR-6642, would also allow for new sample sharing programs for importers and intellectual property rights holders.
CBP said the following customs broker licenses, as well as any and all permits, have been canceled with prejudice::
The legislation introduced Dec. 7 by House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-Texas) to modernize CBP and other customs-related agencies would set a minimum standard for the amount of information customs brokers would be required to collect about an importer.
The government of Canada issued the following trade-related notices for Dec. 10 (Note that some may also be given separate headlines.)
National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America plans a webinar at 1 p.m. ET Dec. 13 on changes affecting the regulation of property brokers & surface freight forwarders as a result of the Transportation Bill signed this summer. It said the bill includes language affecting the regulation of property brokers, domestic freight forwarders and trucking firms. They include new registration and licensing requirements, and a 750 percent increase in the minimum amount of the property broker's bond. Additionally, surface freight forwarders will need to post a similar $75,000 bond. Learn how and why these changes came about, and gain a perspective on the statutory changes and the general underwriting environment for these bonds.
Dec. 10-11 Practising Law Institute seminar on Coping with Export Controls 2012, Ritz Carlton, Washington, D.C. -- http://www.pli.edu/Content/Seminar/Coping_with_U_S_Export_Controls_2012/_/N-4kZ1z132fy?ID=144274
CBP issued a notice announcing that hundreds of Customs broker licenses are revoked by operation of law, without prejudice, for failure to file the 2012 triennial status report and applicable fee.