CBP posted two updated sets of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), one for policy questions and another for technical questions, on the ongoing Simplified Entry pilot. CBP will being its evaluation of the pilot, which began in May, it said in the policy FAQ. Under Simplified Entry, an importer can file an entry far in advance of a shipment and receive a release indication on its cargo much earlier than under the current entry process.
Ted Sherman, director of Global Trade Services at Target, and Kathy Neal, director of Global Trade Compliance at Regal Beloit, were named the Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations (COAC) trade co-chairs.
CBP import specialists and officers assigned to the Los Angeles/Long Beach seaport seized five shipments arriving from China containing 20,457 pairs of ladies footwear, in violation of the Christian Louboutin trademark, with an estimated manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $18 million, said CBP in a press release. “This seizure illustrates the outstanding level of commodity expertise and vigilance of CBP import specialists and officers at our nation’s largest seaport. CBP maintains an aggressive and proactive posture on intercepting shipments containing counterfeit and pirated items,” said Todd Owen, CBP director of field operations in Los Angeles.
CBP sent out some of its refund checks dated between July 30 and Aug. 8 without the accompanying information that details the reason for the payment, CBP said in a CSMS message. Questions from those receiving the U.S. Treasury checks in question, which are shown with the number 70050800 on the check next to the date, within this timeframe should be sent to CBP location where the entry was filed. Those that haven't filed entries in which a refund might be due should contact the CBP Revenue Division at (317) 298-1200 extension 4015, said CBP.
In the Aug. 15 issue of the CBP Bulletin (Vol. 46, No. 34), CBP published a notice that proposes to revoke and modify rulings and similar treatment regarding the tariff classification of work footwear.
CBP posted an August 2012 version of its informed compliance publication entitled, "What Every Member of the Trade Community Should Know About: Instruments of International Traffic." CBP said there were no substantive changes made to the revised version.
Brenda Smith will replace Cynthia Allen as head of the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Business Office, after Allen leaves for a position at DHL next month, said industry and government officials. Brenda Smith is now the executive director of trade policy and programs in the CBP Office of International Trade. John Leonard, director of textile and apparel policy at CBP, will replace Smith, said CBP.
CBP issued a memo Aug. 16 giving guidance on the payment of the retroactive merchandise processing fee (MPF), on entries flagged for reconciliation. The additional MPF will be accounted for on the reconciliation entry (type 09) for underlying entries which have a date of entry (as defined in 19 CFR § 141.68) of Oct. 1 though Nov. 4, 2011.
New lobbyist registrations on trade issues include:
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related issues: