CBP released a new fact sheet March 8 on new provisions of the Part 111 customs broker regulations that require brokers to notify CBP when separating from a client that is intentionally attempting to defraud the U.S. government or commit another criminal act.
CBP's Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee (COAC) will next meet March 29 in Seattle, CBP said in a notice. Comments are due in writing by March 24.
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:
A case involving the appraisal and correct tariff payments on six large stamping presses for automobile manufacturing has concluded in mediation, with all issues settled, according to a Feb 28 mediation report (Aida-America v. U.S., CIT # 18-00215).
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:
TransUnion denies it violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) by failing to delete inaccurate information from plaintiff Israel Mertz’s credit file after receiving notice of the inaccuracies in his Verizon account (see 2212300022), said its answer Monday (docket 7:22-cv-10938) in U.S. District Court for Southern New York in White Plains.
CBP reminded customs brokers that their powers of attorney must be updated by Feb. 17 to comply with the agency’s Part 111 customs broker modernization final rule, in a CSMS message Feb. 13. Under the final rule, “a broker must execute a POA directly with an importer of record or drawback claimant (client) and not through a freight forwarder or other third party to transact customs business on behalf of the client,” CBP said.
Customs brokers and forwarders commended an effort by CBP to modernize the export process for used self-propelled vehicles exports (USPVs), but said a range of questions “remain unanswered” about how the new pilot will work in practice. They also said CBP can make several improvements to the pilot, including by allowing filers to submit electronic export documents before a vehicle is delivered to the port of export.
Washington state-based auto broker BidBuy Auctions settled a customs fraud case with DOJ, agreeing to pay $430,000, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Washington announced. The qui tam case saw a former BidBuy employee allege the auto broker lied to CBP about the value of imported vehicles to pay less in duties. As a result of the settlement, the former employee-turned-whistleblower will get 23%, or $98,900, of the $430,000 payment.
The U.S. settled a civil suit against global trading and investment firm Samsung C&T America -- a subsidiary of Korean conglomerate Samsung C&T Corp. -- over charges SCTA violated the False Claims Act by misclassifying footwear imports to avoid paying customs duties, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York announced. The importer will pay $1 million to the U.S. and make admissions over its conduct, specifically that it misclassified its imports on entry documents filed with CBP and underpaid custom duties, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.