A CBP review of system issues for customs broker exam takers found few cases of reduced time, the agency said in a CSMS message. CBP recently said there were reports of problems with the electronic test on Oct. 8 (see 2010150034). “A thorough investigation was conducted and it was determined that there was no time lost for the majority of [Customs Broker License Examination] testers,” it said. “This means the majority of testers, regardless of delays[,] had access to the exam for the timeframe allotted.”
Ed Greenberg, a partner with GKG Law who also serves as general and transportation counsel to the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America, is retiring after more than 30 years, the NCBFAA said in an email to members. Greenberg “will finish 2020 with the Association, and transition into retirement at the start of 2021,” the trade group said. “NCBFAA will be continuing on with GKG for the immediate future and doing” a request for proposals “for both positions” in 2021.
An importer’s handwritten corrections on a 1520(d) post-importation claim for U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA) treatments were sufficient, and the Apparel, Footwear & Textiles Center of Excellence and Expertise should not have denied the claim and required submission of a new certificate of origin, CBP headquarters said in a ruling released in early October.
Some Oct. 8 customs broker exam takers experienced problem with the electronic test, CBP said in an Oct. 15 CSMS message. “At some testing locations, applicants encountered system issues, while other applicants tested but did not experience problems and loss of the exam time,” CBP said. The test was held at more than 120 locations, it said. Due to the issues, CBP “is withholding release of the exam content until further notice in an effort to address the concerns,” it said.
There is a desire for more “uniformity” for country of origin and marking under USMCA, similar to the rules in Part 102 of NAFTA, said Heidi Bray, manager-U.S. and global customs compliance for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. Bray and other Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee members mentioned a variety of USMCA “challenges” during the Oct. 7 COAC meeting. She said she thinks it would be a good idea to bring back a USMCA working group to discuss those issues.
The Department of Homeland Security general counsel approved an advance notice of proposed rulemaking on customs broker continuing education requirements (see 2009140033) Oct. 6, said John Leonard, CBP executive director-trade policy and programs. Leonard mentioned the progress during the Oct. 7 Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee (COAC) meeting. “We're going to work to get it out with the Federal Register as soon as possible, so you'll be seeing that soon,” he said. “It's an extremely well-written notice and I think it's really going to get us to the next level in terms of that program.”
There is a desire for more “uniformity” for country of origin and marking under USMCA, similar to the rules in Part 102 of NAFTA, said Heidi Bray, manager-U.S. and global customs compliance for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. Bray and other Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee members mentioned a variety of USMCA “challenges” during the Oct. 7 COAC meeting. She said she thinks it would be a good idea to bring back a USMCA working group to discuss those issues.
Organic growers, suppliers and importers, as well as customs brokers, called on the Agricultural Marketing Service to streamline aspects of its proposed new strategy for strengthening organic enforcement, in comments to AMS filed in recent days. As proposed in August, the new enforcement approach imposes unrealistic timelines for per-shipment organic certifications, and could cause confusion over who is responsible for ensuring organic imports are compliant.
Canada published its notice for now-suspended plans to implement retaliatory tariffs on aluminum goods from the U.S. in the Sept. 30 Canada Gazette, Part II. Canada was set to apply the tariffs once the U.S. tariffs on goods from Canada took effect on Sept. 16, but after the U.S. decided Sept. 15 not to implement its tariffs, Canada said it would follow suit (see 2009150048). “Given the timing of the U.S. announcement on September 15, 2020, just hours before Canada’s planned announcement of surtaxes entering into effect, the Order in Council to impose surtaxes (the “Surtax Order”) was already approved and set to enter into force on September 16, 2020,” a Department of Finance Canada spokesperson said.
CBP posted multiple documents ahead of the Oct. 7 Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee (COAC) meeting: