CBP and ICE's Homeland Security Investigations arrested a California man for selling Cialis, Viagra and Levitra over Craigslist, said CBP in a press release. CBP first became suspicious when it intercepted several parcels addressed to Nathan Welter from China containing counterfeit drugs, said CBP. Welter, who is now charged with eight counts of trafficking in counterfeit goods, pleaded not guilty on March 8, said CBP. Each count carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of up $2 million, the agency said.
CBP and the Trade Support Network (TSN) discussed plans for developing new capabilities to the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) during a recent Webinar, according to a document posted by CBP. Much of CBP's focus was on the use of "agile" development, meant to allow CBP to implement small pieces of ACE rather than in larger chunks. The approach is said to allow more flexibility as needs change.
The Federal Maritime Commission released a notice of the filing of the following agreement under the Shipping Act of 1984. Interested parties may submit comments on the agreements to the Secretary, Federal Maritime Commission, Washington, DC 20573, within 10 days.
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related issues:
The San Francisco Client Representative Office will be closed through March 18, said CBP in a CSMS message. In the meantime, contact the Seattle, Blaine, Wash. or Long Beach, Calif. client representatives, the message said.
CBP issued its weekly tariff rate quota and tariff preference level commodity report as of March 11. This report includes TRQs on various products such as beef, sugar, dairy products, peanuts, cotton, cocoa products, and tobacco; and certain BFTA, DR-CAFTA, Israel FTA, JFTA, MFTA, OFTA, SFTA, UAFTA (AFTA) and UCFTA (Chile FTA) non-textile TRQs etc. Each report also includes the AGOA, ATPDEA, BFTA, DR-CAFTA, CBTPA, Haitian HOPE, MFTA, NAFTA, OFTA, SFTA, and UCFTA TPLs and TRQs for qualifying textile articles and/or other articles; the TRQs on worsted wool fabrics, etc.
CBP posted a March 11 version of its CF 1400 (Record of Vessel in Foreign Trade Entrances) electronic query report of the Vessel Management System (VMS), in accordance with 19 CFR 4.95, organized by entrances. CBP also posted a version of its CF 1401 (Record of Vessel in Foreign Trade Clearances) electronic query report of the VMS, in accordance with 19 CFR 4.95, organized by clearances.
Customs Rulings Online Search System (CROSS) was updated March 8. The corresponding downloadable rulings are now available.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is proposing to exempt certain information collected through the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) from the Privacy Act, DHS said in a notice of proposed rulemaking. The Privacy Act applies to information that is in a ''system of records,'' and requires approval from an individual to allow for the release of personally identifiable information,. The Privacy Act also allows government agencies to exempt certain records from the access provisions, but requires a notice of proposed rulemaking beforehand.
CBP released its March 13 Customs Bulletin (Vol. 47, No. 12). While the Bulletin does not contain any ruling articles, it does include recent general notices and Court of International Trade decisions.