The Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration recently signed a new strategic partnership agreement with the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America to strengthen the logistics and transportation industry, promote trade and investment, and enforce U.S. trade laws, said the NCBFAA in a press release sent on Sept. 21. The partnership “seeks to increase awareness of the economic benefits of international trade, educate the public on trade activities as a job creator and development strategy, as well as encourage U.S businesses to accelerate their exporting operations while simultaneously generating interest from foreign companies to coordinate with ITA regarding importing valuable commodities,” said the release.

LAS VEGAS -- Wi-Fi advocates and the cable industry clashed with carriers (see 1509090046 and 1509080046) over LTE-U, both at CTIA's convention and at the FCC. Carriers and their allies said LTE-U and Wi-Fi can get along, while NCTA expressed alarm. NTIA offered to get involved if needed.

LAS VEGAS -- Wi-Fi advocates and the cable industry clashed with carriers (see 1509090046 and 1509080046) over LTE-U, both at CTIA's convention and at the FCC. Carriers and their allies said LTE-U and Wi-Fi can get along, while NCTA expressed alarm. NTIA offered to get involved if needed.

LAS VEGAS -- Wi-Fi advocates and the cable industry clashed with carriers (see 1509090046 and 1509080046) over LTE-U, both at CTIA's convention and at the FCC. Carriers and their allies said LTE-U and Wi-Fi can get along, while NCTA expressed alarm. NTIA offered to get involved if needed.

The following lawsuits were filed at the Court of International Trade during the week of Aug 31 - Sept. 6:

CBP’s recent delay of some mandatory use dates for the Automated Commercial Environment elicited a sigh of relief from the trade community, but much work remains to ensure a smooth transition, said customs brokers and software developers in recent interviews. The new staged approach, with deadlines in February and July 2016, gives the trade the time it needs to successfully migrate to ACE. However, familiar problems with quota-related entry types and still-unreleased software requirements by CBP and other agencies will remain hurdles to be overcome as ACE implementation continues over the coming year.

Despite the recent delay in required use dates for the Automated Commercial Environment (see 1509010017), CBP will still only allow one day for live testing of several entry types, according to a new agency deployment schedule (here). The 11 entry types that may include quota merchandise -- including foreign-trade zone and warehouse entries and withdrawals -- will not be deployed until Feb. 27, according to the schedule.

International Trade Today is providing readers with some of the top stories for Aug. 24-28 in case they were missed.

CBP made some major changes in its timeline for requiring use of the Automated Commercial Environment, allowing for Automated Commercial System filing several months beyond the original mandatory use date, the agency said Aug. 31 (here). The original Nov. 1 deadline will now begin a "transition period" where use of ACE is "encouraged," with more ACE requirements phased in through July. The changes came in response to a number of industry concerns recently lodged with CBP (see 1507290066 and 1507150063), as well as shifts in resources related to the move to ACE for Air Manifest (see 1506110007). CBP said it still plans to finish the ACE transition by Oct. 1, 2016 (here), ahead of the completion of the International Trade Data System by the end of 2016, as required by a 2014 White House executive order (see 14021928).

Mark Hirzel recently left DHL Global Forwarding due to a corporate restructuring. Hirzel, formerly DHL’s Customs Consultancy Manager, will stay on as president of the Los Angeles Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Association for the time being, and will remain active in the Pacific Coast Council of Customs Brokers and the Legislative Committee of the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America, he said. Hirzel is the second high-profile customs compliance employee to depart DHL Global Forwarding due to the restructuring in recent months. Cindy Allen, former DHL head of customs brokerage, left for the same reason in July (see 1507170018). DHL Global Forwarding did not immediately comment.