CBP won't release the names of the members involved in the customs broker working group that are working to define the role of brokers in filing with Centers for Excellence and Expertise. The agency can't release "the names of the group members because we weren’t given permission by each group," said a spokesman.
CBP said in a CSMS message it resolved an issue with the November Periodic Statement due date. The Periodic Monthly Statement due date now correctly says Nov. 23, 2012. Previously, the Account Revenue reports users may have seen some entry summaries incorrectly flagged with a due date of Nov. 21, 2012.
CBP is requesting comments by Jan. 22 for an existing information collection on unlading and CBP overtime request applications. CBP proposes to extend the expiration date of this information collection without a change to the burden hours or to the information collected. The notice ran in the Federal Register Nov. 20.
CBP is requesting comments by Jan. 22 for an existing information collection on holders or containers which enter the U.S. duty free. CBP proposes to extend the expiration date of this information collection without a change to the burden hours or to the information collected. The notice is scheduled to run in the Federal Register Nov. 20.
The Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) for Firms program has largely been a help to U.S. companies that are hurt as a result of increased imports due to loosened trade barriers, said Alfredo Gomez, acting director of International Affairs and Trade at the Government Accountability Office (GAO). Gomez testified Nov. 14 before the House Oversight Committee Government Organization subcommittee. The Nov. 14 hearing, focused on evaluating trade adjustment assistance, was previously postponed. The GAO testimony is (here).
The Senate Finance and House Ways and Means Committees posted the International Trade Commission reports and Obama Administration analysis related to miscellaneous tariff bill (MTB) legislation. Input from the ITC and Obama Administration through the Commerce Department is required to pass a MTB, which is typically passed by every congress to suspend tariffs on certain products. Numerous duty suspensions would expire if a MTB isn't passed by the end of the year.
The House approved granting Russia Permanent Normal Trade Relation Nov. 16. The bill (HR-6156) would repeal the Jackson-Vanik amendment, which limits U.S. trade with communist countries. The bill includes the so-called Magnitsky rule, which calls for repercussions for Russian leaders thought to be involved in the death of a Russian lawyer, Sergei Magnitsky. The bill is expected to be approved. The floor schedule is (here).
CBP posted a Nov. 13 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.
CBP said FDA Import Trade Auxiliary Communication System (ITACS) users may experience intermittent outages from Nov. 16-18 due to scheduled server maintenance. Users who encounter problems with ITACS during this period should reattempt their activity in 30 minutes, the agency said in a CSMS message.
CBP officers at the Port of New York/New Jersey recently inspected a shipment of imported merchandise declared on entry documents as “plastics,” finding instead a huge score of counterfeit handbags, belts and wallets, the agency said in a press release. The 537 cartons carried goods with Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Michael Kors trademarks in violation of federal trademark law. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price of the bags, belts, and wallets, if genuine, was estimated to be more than $20 million.