On July 21, 2010, the House Energy and Commerce Committee held a markup, amended, and approved H.R. 4678, the Foreign Manufacturer Legal Accountability Act of 2010.
On July 9, 2010, U.S. Customs and Border Protection updated and expanded its frequently asked questions document on the 10+2 interim final rule that requires Security Filing information from importers and additional information from carriers for vessel (maritime) cargo before it is brought into the U.S.
Legislation establishing a national standard for data security and breach notification was introduced Wednesday by Sens. Tom Carper, D-Del. and Bob Bennett, R-Utah. The bill, S-3579, would require retailers, financial establishments and federal agencies to safeguard sensitive information and investigate security breaches, said a Carper press release. It also would require them to notify customers when there’s a “substantial risk” of identify theft or account fraud. The law would apply to retailers taking credit card information, data brokers compiling private information, and government agencies possessing nonpublic personal information. “We need to replace the current patchwork of state and federal regulations for identity theft with a national law that provides uniform protections across the country,” said Carper. “This comprehensive approach will better serve consumers by making it easier for businesses and government agencies to take the steps necessary to adequately protect all Americans from identity theft and account fraud.”
The International Trade Commission reports that insufficient access to finance, complex regulations, and rising transportation costs are the top barriers to exporting identified by U.S. small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
On July 14, 2010, the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association sent a second letter to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Ways and Means Committee regarding its concerns with H.R. 4678, the Foreign Manufacturer Legal Accountability Act, which would require foreign manufacturers or producers of covered products1 to register an agent in the U.S. to accept service of process on their behalf, for state or federal regulatory proceedings and civil actions.
On July 9, 2010, U.S. Customs and Border Protection updated and expanded its frequently asked questions document on the 10+2 interim final rule that requires Security Filing information from importers and additional information from carriers for vessel (maritime) cargo before it is brought into the U.S.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted a notice announcing that the next customs broker license exam will be held on Monday, October 4, 2010.
The Directorate of Defense Trade Controls has posted its July 2010 Defense Trade Advisory Group Plenary Session Working Group presentations, which includes a proposal to create an exemption under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations for the export of components and spare parts in support of previous exports of U.S. origin end items.
Broker Power is now issuing weekly summary reports highlighting the most active textile and apparel tariff preference levels1 from U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s “Quota Weekly Commodity Status Report.” BP’s weekly report also lists the TRQ commodities on CBP’s weekly “TRQ/TPL Threshold to Fill List.”
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted the June 2010 Trade Support Network monthly activity report, which summarize the activity of all of the TSN Committees and Subcommittees for June.