The Agriculture Department should move quickly to increase the tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) for raw and refine sugar in addition to the reallocation of existing TRQs, the Sweetener Users Association (SUA) said in a letter to the USDA. The letter follows a recent similar request from the SUA to the USDA. New World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates projections highlight the needs for a major TRQ increase. According to the letter, ending stocks are now projected at just 6.8% of total use, well under half of a normal level even under the most conservative assumptions.
Tim Warren
Timothy Warren, Executive Managing Editor, Communications Daily. He previously led the International Trade Today editorial team from the time it was purchased by Warren Communications News in 2012 through the launch of Export Compliance Daily and Trade Law Daily. Tim is a 2005 graduate of the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts and lives in Maryland with his wife and three kids.
The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) will receive a staff briefing and status report on a notice of inquiry (NOI) regarding Non-Vessel-Operating Common Carrier Negotiated Rate Arrangements and Tariff Filing Exemption, according to a notice scheduled to be run in the Federal Register April 13, 2012. The briefing is scheduled as part of the FMC's April 18, 2012 open meeting.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) hosted meetings at the initial three ports which will be piloting Simplified Entry. The meetings provided bi-directional education for both CBP and the Trade on how Simplified Entries will flow in the Air Mode of Transportation (MOT). The Simplified Entry visits were held at all three pilot ports: the Fed Ex hub in Indianapolis, Ind. on March 14th, the Chicago, Ill. Field Office on March 16th, and the Atlanta, Ga. Field Office on March 19th.
A recently released U.S. Customs and Border Protection February 23 Implementation Guide for Messaging Interface between International Trade Data System Trade Partners and the CBP Document Image System (DIS) for importers and brokers provides extensive technical details on the messaging processes. The document, numbered ITDS-DIS-IG-1.2.6, says For Official Use Only. CBP recently began the first phase of DIS testing for Importers and Brokers using ACE.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is seeking comments by June 11, 2012, on an existing information collection on lien notices for freight. CBP is proposing to extend this information collection with a change to the burden hours or information collected.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection posted a reminder of the Sept. 29, 2012, effective date for required use of ACE e-Manifest for advance Rail and Sea cargo information and automated broker interface in-bond transactions. As of April 6, 1,872 importers, brokers or software providers have finished certification testing, 705 are currently testing, and 322 have moved to ACE production, according to the reminder. Importers, brokers and software providers that aren't among those groups and file advance rail and sea cargo information or ABI in-bond transactions should contact their client representative, the reminder said.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection issued the following releases on commercial trade and related issues:
U.S. Customs and Border Protection approved Intertek USA, Inc. as a commercial gauger and laboratory, according to a notice on public inspection scheduled to run in the Federal Register April 11. Intertek is approved to gauge and accredited to test petroleum and petroleum products, organic chemicals and vegetable oils for customs purposes, in accordance with the provisions of 19 CFR 151.12 and 19 CFR 151.13, the notice said. Inquires regarding the specific test or gauger service this entity is accredited or approved to perform may be directed to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection by calling (202) 344-1060.
CBP Seeks Comment on Cargo Container and Road Vehicle Certification for Transport under Customs Seal
U.S. Customs and Border Protection will seek comments on an extension of existing information gathering regarding Cargo Container and Road Vehicle Certification for Transport under Customs Seal, according to a notice published in the Federal Register April 10. Comments are due June 11. CBP proposes the extension of time without change to the burden hours.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection posted an April 9 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.