Ian Saunders began his job as the new secretary general of the World Customs Organization, the organization said Jan. 3. Nominated by CBP, Saunders was elected to the position in June (see 2306260031). He was previously a deputy assistant secretary at the Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration.
CBP released its "hold" on EU steel and aluminum quotas Jan. 2, with quota limits remaining unchanged from the levels set for 2023, CBP said in a CSMS message Jan. 3. That same day CBP posted updated quota bulletins for steel and for aluminum. The "STX" steel extended exclusions for 2024 announced by the Commerce Department are available in ACE starting Jan. 4, CBP said.
The Federal Maritime Commission hired David Eng as the agency's new secretary. Eng, who most recently worked as a branch chief at the Departmental Appeals Board of the Department of Health and Human Services, will process Shipping Act complaints and communications submitted to the FMC, maintain records of meetings, and conduct other clerical activities on behalf of the commission.
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:
CBP has released its Jan. 3 Customs Bulletin (Vol. 57, No. 49). While it contains recent court decisions, no customs rulings are included.
CBP will resume operations at several ports starting on Jan. 4, the agency said in an emailed statement late on Jan. 2: Eagle Pass in Texas, San Ysidro in California, and Lukeville and Morely Gate in Arizona.
The Border Trade Alliance requested a meeting with Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas to discuss the "quickly deteriorating situation at the Texas-Mexico border," according to a BTA letter dated Dec. 29. The business group called the Texas Department of Public Safety’s inspections of commercial vehicles entering the state from Mexico "duplicative and costly" due to CBP being assigned to the same task.
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:
CBP created Harmonized System Update (HSU) 2315 Dec. 29, containing 5,221 ABI records and 874 Harmonized Tariff Schedule records. HSU 2315 includes end of year 484(f) and 2024 annual stage rate changes, CBP said in a CSMS message.
Any 2024 Tuna Opening Moment Quota filers who received a “no lines subject to quota” message prior to 8:40 a.m. on Jan. 2 were asked by CBP to retransmit their entries prior to noon EST on Jan. 2. The appropriate response is “quota process pending” for entries filed properly, the agency said in a Jan. 2 CSMS message. Once that message is received, no further action is required, CBP said.