Lawmakers considered IP industry pleas for better copyright enforcement at home and abroad late Monday at a House IP Subcommittee hearing. “Rogue websites pose a two-pronged threat to American IP interests,” said Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va. Websites that traffic in stolen intellectual property affect U.S. job growth and revenue, he said. Furthermore, there’s a particularly pressing threat coming from “cyberlockers” that enable massive theft of intellectual property, he said.
During a recent National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA) webinar, a Transportation Security Administration official discussed a possible mandate to screen cargo on all-cargo aircraft, noting that even screening 5-10% of such cargo would represent a significant challenge for the agency.
The Government of Canada issued the following trade-related notices from March 9-11, 2011:
The National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America will be holding its annual conference on April 3-6, 2011 in Phoenix, Arizona. Among others, officials from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Census, the Bureau of Industry and Security, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission are expected to speak at the conference. Agenda items include CBP and customs brokers, consumer safety, upcoming export regulatory changes, textile enforcement, and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is announcing that the following Customs broker licenses, as well as any and all permits, have been cancelled with prejudice:
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is requesting comments by May 6, 2011, on a proposed new information collection, the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Trade Survey, that it will be submitting to the Office of Management and Budget for approval.
In Estee Lauder Inc., v. U.S., the Court of International Trade ruled against U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s motion to dismiss the case, ruling that this court has jurisdiction despite some unclear facts in Lauder’s protest. The CIT stated that rather than allowing a “deemed denial” of Lauder’s request for accelerated disposition to occur, CBP should have sought the necessary factual evidence to evaluate the protest.
During a recent interview with Broker Power, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials provided an update on ACE, including Cargo Release, the 24 groups of high priority ACE entry summary edits wanted by the trade, Post Summary Correction functionality, the deployment of M1, the document imaging system, etc.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a notice providing information on insufficient continuous bonds, including actions it will take against those that are aware of such insufficiency, but continue to use them. Information is also included on reasons for continuous bonds being rendered insufficient, deferred payment, and invalid addresses.
The Federal Maritime Commission has issued a final rule, effective April 18, 2011, to create a new 46 Part 532 and amend Part 520 to make available to licensed non-vessel-operating common carriers (NVOCCs) a new, voluntary exemption from the requirement to publish rate tariffs, if they agree to Negotiated Rate Arrangements (NRAs) with their shippers.