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.
The Federal Maritime Commission has posted to its web site a final rule to amend 46 CFR Part 520 and create a new Part 532 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.
On February 23, 2011, 11 trade organizations, including AAEI, NCBFAA, NRF and the Chamber of Commerce1 sent a letter to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D) and Senator Orrin Hatch (R), in support of the confirmation of Alan Bersin as CBP Commissioner. If Bersin is not confirmed before the end of 2011, his term of office will expire.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted an updated version of its frequently asked questions document regarding containers considered to be instruments of international traffic (IIT) that are imported into the U.S. with residual cargo (such as chemicals or other bulk goods1). Among other things, the updated FAQs state that on July 17, 2011, CBP will begin enforcing the requirement that residual cargo imported in IIT be manifested, classified, and entered (i.e., formal entry, informal entry, or Section 321 entry).