Broker Power is providing readers with some of the top stories for March 14 --18, 2011 in case they were missed last week.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted its report on the Broker Self-Assessment Outreach Pilot program that began in July 2009 and lasted for one year. CBP recommended that the pilot end without a plan to proceed with a similar model at this time.
The Agricultural Marketing Service has issued a final rule amending the Dairy Promotion and Research Order to implement an assessment (tax) on imported dairy products and to add importer representation to the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a final rule, effective March 17, 2011, to finalize its interim rule that eliminated the textile declaration and added new Manufacturer Identification Code (MID) requirements for textiles and apparel. The final rule adopts the October 2005 interim rule, with changes, such as excluding personal use shipments from the MID requirement, and limiting the MID requirement for textiles and apparel outside of HTS Section XI to those with category numbers.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted an updated version of its spreadsheet of ACE ESAR A2.2 (Initial Entry Types) programming issues.
The State Department has issued a proposed rule to amend the International Traffic in Arms Regulations to add new license exceptions for the export of (i) replacement parts and components for U.S.-origin end items and components, and (ii) articles to incorporate into EAR end items.
Officials from the Transportation Security Administration and Government Accountability Office recently testified at a Congressional hearing1 and a TSA official spoke during a National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA) webinar where they provided an update on TSA’s efforts to meet the 100% screening mandate on cargo transported on inbound passenger aircraft and the many challenges it is facing in meeting the mandate.
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: