FedEx Trade Networks recently instituted a new organization structure for "specialty logistics and e-commerce solutions," it said in a news release. Several companies will be realigned under FedEx Trade Networks, it said. This new organization will now include: FedEx Custom Critical, FedEx Cross Border, FedEx Supply Chain, FedEx Trade Networks Transport and Brokerage, and a new company called FedEx Forward Depots. FedEx Forward Depots will have "responsibility for Critical Inventory and Service Parts Logistics, 3-D Printing, Repair Center and the FedEx Packaging Lab," it said.

The U.S. Council of International Business will "continue to oppose policies that handicap U.S. trade" in 2018, the USCIB said in its trade agenda. Among those policies are a "lack of clear standards at U.S. customs for forced labor," it said. The trade group will also "urge the Administration not to introduce new proposals in NAFTA that will weaken existing provisions or negate the benefits that U.S. companies derive from the U.S. being part of NAFTA," it said. USCIB will push for trade deals with the EU and Asian countries "to ensure that American goods and services companies have open and fair access to the markets in the Asia-Pacific."

Maersk and IBM will form a joint venture meant to "provide more efficient and secure methods for conducting global trade using blockchain technology," the companies said in a Jan. 16 blog post. The new company will work to develop a new platform to "provide end-to-end supply chain visibility that enables all actors involved in a global shipping transaction to securely and seamlessly exchange shipment events in real time," it said. The platform will also "digitize and automate paperwork filings for the import and export of goods by enabling end users to securely submit, stamp and approve documents across national and organizational boundaries."

The Delta Cargo warehouse at JFK Airport in New York will be closed until Jan. 11 due to "operational challenges and safety concerns related to the recent severe winter weather in the Northeast," the company said in an alert. "As our team works to resume normal operations, Delta Cargo is working closely with our JV partners to process freight through partner facilities at JFK," it said.

The U.S. should look at strengthening existing trading partnerships rather than consider leaving them, U.S. Chamber of Commerce CEO Thomas Donohue said in a Jan. 10 speech. "Withdrawing from NAFTA would be a grave mistake," he said. While recent deregulatory moves and tax reform are good, "a wrong move on NAFTA would send us five steps back," he said. That's also true of the FTA with South Korea, he said. "We agree that in some areas the Koreans need to do more to faithfully implement the deal," Donohue said. "But overturning it would hurt American farmers and manufacturers -- and benefit only our foreign competitors." There are opportunities for trade growth, particularly with India, the Middle East and Africa, he said. "We need to clinch new deals that will open markets -- not undermine the ones we have."

CH Powell acquired The Irwin Brown Company at the beginning of the year, Irwin Brown said in a notice on its website. Irwin Brown is headquartered in New Orleans and has an office along the Gulf Coast. "This acquisition allows CH Powell Company to expand its import brokerage services in this important region," CH Powell said in an emailed news release. "With growing trade in Central and South America and the continual growth of imports from Asia to the Gulf, CH Powell and the Irwin Brown team are well positioned to expand its national and international foot print." The deal "was initiated by the retirement of Shelly Bernstein, Irwin Brown’s president," CH Powell said.

Sobel Shipping and Network Brokers International will merge, forming Sobel Network Shipping, the companies said in a news release. Among other offerings, Sobel Network Shipping will be a "nationally permitted Customs broker employing six highly experienced Customs brokers," it said.

The expiration of Generalized System of Preferences benefits at the end of 2017 are estimated to cost U.S. companies between $2.5 million and $3 million per day, the Coalition for GSP said on its website. "It is critical that importers continue claiming GSP for eligible products despite the expiration," said the group, which advocates for GSP beneficiaries in the U.S. "Companies must pay the taxes, but claiming GSP now will help expedite any refund process assuming Congress renews GSP retroactively. In the event of a prolonged expiration, it also will ensure that the Coalition does not underestimate costs of expiration, which are based on claimed imports." House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady, R-Texas, recently said GSP renewal is an early priority for 2018 (see 1712210029). CBP provided instructions for GSP filers following expiration last month (see 1712200005).

December imports at major retail container ports in the U.S. are expected to increase 1.5 percent compared with December a year ago, suggesting that retailers are restocking in preparation for the holiday selling season’s “final days,” the National Retail Federation said in its monthly port tracker report. With the expected December rise in imports, NRF forecasts the year “should end with a healthy 6.4 percent increase over 2016,” it said. “Retailers are doing last-minute restocking as consumers head toward the finish line of the shopping season, but the majority of holiday merchandise is already in the country and ports are beginning to quiet down.” Ports covered in the tracker report are expected to handle 1.6 million 20-foot-long cargo containers or their equivalents in December, bringing 2017's total to a record 20 million containers, topping last year’s previous record of 18.8 million containers, the group said.

Cargo Network Services, a subsidiary of the International Air Transport Association, and PayCargo will work together to offer an "efficient payment solution for Imports into the U.S. called the PayCargo-CNS System," the companies said in a news release. The system "will become the online payment processing engine for expedited payments at U.S. stations of participating Airlines for Import Service Fees, as well as other additional incidental fees normally collected before an importer can retrieve their cargo from the airport facility," the companies said. "Importers will be able to make online payments within minutes, and the payment data will flow to the Airline immediately allowing the importer to pick up their cargo at the airport facility within one (1) hour for a simple flat fee of $5.00 per transaction. The Airlines will receive their funds from PayCargo-CNS overnight and see their funds in their bank account the next morning."