NEW ORLEANS -- Federal Maritime Commissioner Max Vekich signaled he’s open to a further expansion of FMC authority, including potentially allowing the FMC to scrutinize certain rail storage fees.
NEW ORLEANS -- Although CBP launched a pilot program in January to accept certain electronic filings for used self-propelled vehicles exports (see 2212160021), some ports aren’t recognizing the pilot, said Donna Kavanaugh, compliance manager for A.N. Deringer. Speaking during the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America’s annual conference this week, Kavanaugh said exporters are encountering ports that either aren’t familiar with the pilot or “don't have a desire to participate.” She urged exporters to ask their ports to participate in the pilot and “share with them the links” to the pilot announcement.
NEW ORLEANS -- CBP is considering “several plans” to modernize its export penalty process, including one that could allow the agency to issue penalty notices electronically instead of through physical mail, said Brian Semeraro, chief of CBP’s outbound enforcement policy branch. Semeraro, speaking during the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America’s annual conference this week, said CBP is looking at “different ways to utilize the electronic petition processes,” which could reduce “the constant mail back and forth.”
Window Opening for Export Provisions in Customs Bill as CBP, Census Address Clerical Error Penalties
NEW ORLEANS -- The time may be coming soon to incorporate exporter priorities in upcoming customs modernization legislation, including provisions addressing clerical errors, as CBP and the Census Bureau also work to include language on clerical errors in penalty mitigation guidelines, CBP officials said during a panel discussion April 26.
NEW ORLEANS -- Charge complaints before the Federal Maritime Commission are increasingly trending toward significant settlements or awards, industry officials said, urging shippers to file complaints if they believe they’re facing unfair carrier practices. Carriers are choosing to settle rather than draw the FMC’s attention, they said, especially for complaints involving demurrage or detention fees.
NEW ORLEANS -- While a CBP pilot on pipeline imports may not at first glance have relevance for many importers, the ramifications of the pilot could have wide-ranging effects for importers and customs brokers as CBP applies any lessons learned to its development of ACE 2.0, according to Amy Magnus of A.N. Deringer.
NEW ORLEANS -- The National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America is preparing to ask Congress to allow the Federal Maritime Commission to exercise jurisdiction over certain rail storage fees. NCBFAA is drafting a letter to Reps. John Garamendi, D-Calif., and Dusty Johnson, R-S.D. -- the two House authors of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act -- that could ask the lawmakers to require the FMC to more forcefully regulate rail-assessed demurrage fees charged on ocean containers traveling inland.
NEW ORLEANS -- CBP doesn't want to revoke anyone’s customs broker licenses over the coming continuing education program requirements, Carie Samuel, Ascent Global Logistics vice president of regulatory compliance, said April 26 at the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America annual conference. “They want us to be educated professionals who take this requirement very, very seriously because we asked for it. We wanted it and so they want us to take it seriously,” Samuel said.
NEW OREANS -- The Census Bureau and the State Department are working on a change that would require exporters to submit additional information in the Automated Export System when shipping items controlled under U.S. Munitions List Category XXI, said Omari Wooden, Census’ assistant division chief for trade outreach and regulations. Wooden said the change will be outlined in a proposed rule and could eventually lead to a fatal error in AES if not followed.
NEW ORLEANS -- Much-anticipated customs modernization legislation likely won’t be introduced for at least another few months, but the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America’s legislative adviser isn’t worried about running out of time for Congress to pass it into law before the presidential election cycle, she said during a panel discussion April 26.