CBP should remove language in proposed regulations that would allow importers seven days to prove to CBP that detained merchandise doesn't have counterfeit trademarks, said the International Trademark Association (INTA) in comments filed with CBP June 25. INTA was responding to a CBP request for comments on interim rule allowing CBP to disclose to an intellectual property (IP) right holder information appearing on merchandise or its retail packaging that may comprise information otherwise protected by the Trade Secrets Act, for the purpose of assisting CBP in determining whether the merchandise bears a counterfeit mark.
Public comments on products for inclusion in the miscellaneous tariff bill (MTB) were due June 22. The comments will eventually be publicly available and a House Ways and Means Committee spokeswoman said the committee "will get them up as soon as we can."
CBP held Webinars on June 13 and 14 to help prepare industry during the ongoing six month transition for ACE e-Manifest: Rail and Sea. Effective September 29, 2012, ACE will be the only approved EDI for transmitting required advance rail and sea cargo information and ABI in-bond transactions to CBP. The June 14th Webinar is available (here).
The Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) voiced concern with the Department of Homeland Security's proposed continued exemption of the Automated Targeting System (ATS) from provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974.
CBP said since 8 a.m. on June 25 responses to user input (i.e., 355, MR, AR) in ACE PROD have not been generated by CBP. A work ticket has been open CBP will provide an update when the issue has been resolved, CBP said in a CSMS message.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold webinars on the CBP Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Document Imaging System (DIS) Testing, said CBP in a CSMS message. EPA is seeking participants for this first phase of DIS, which begins in July.
The CBP Import Specialist Enforcement Team at the Laredo Port of Entry seized a commercial shipment of jeans valued at $193,800 that was discovered to infringe on the Levi Strauss and Co. registered trademark, said the agency.
CBP has posted an updated version of its points of contact document for the Remote Location Filing program. The document lists the port name; port code; and contact name, phone number, and fax number.
CBP said the third quarter 2012 (July 1 - Sept. 30) Internal Revenue Service interest rates used to calculate interest on overdue accounts (underpayments) and refunds (overpayments) of customs duties are: 2% for overpayments by corporations; 3% for overpayments by non-corporations; and 3% for underpayments. These rates are unchanged from the corresponding rates in effect for the second quarter of calendar year 2012. The CBP Federal Register notice ran June 26.
CBP said the joint pilot conducted with the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) to test the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) e-Manifest: Rail and Sea (M1) functionality was a success. The Coast Guard became the first Participating Government Agency (PGA) to successfully navigate ACE M1 in production during a series of operational trials in May piloted in Charleston, SC, said CBP. The trials will result in better targeting capability of high risk cargo, improved communication to the trade community, and greater border security.