As USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service prepares for the Dec. 1 enforcement of the seventh phase of Lacey Act import declaration requirements (see 2405300052), officials already are eyeing the challenges that may come in implementing Phase VIII.
The National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America is calling the Agricultural Marketing Service's proposed changes to the definition of importer for the purposes of a promotion order on paper products “unprecedented" in its breadth and ramifications for customs brokers, according to comments filed with the agency.
International Trade Today is providing readers with the top stories from last week in case they were missed. All articles can be found by searching on the titles or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference number.
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has projected that applying Section 301 tariffs to the contents of packages that previously benefited from de minimis, as proposed in the House (see 2407080049), would increase revenue from tariffs by about $23.5 billion in the 2024-2034 period, but would only require reprogramming of ACE and more money for data storage and ACE maintenance, not new CBP officers. The CBO estimated that improving ACE would cost $3 million, and that CBP would need $2 million annually to maintain the system.
Federal Maritime Commissioner Carl Bentzel hopes to issue a final report later this year that will expand on ways carriers, ports, railroads and others can better share supply chain data and real-time shipping information, he said this week. Bentzel said he believes the government eventually should turn some of the report’s recommendations into new mandates, including one that would require carriers to provide shippers with live, in-transit updates on their cargo.
Last week, the Court of International Trade said anti-forced labor advocacy group International Rights Advocates (IRAdvocates) didn't have standing to challenge CBP's inaction in responding to a petition to ban cocoa from Cote d'Ivoire, alleging that it's harvested by child labor (see 2408080049). Terrence Collingsworth, counsel for IRAdvocates, told us he intends to appeal the decision but, should that fail, he is ready to bring alternative plaintiffs before the court who may more clearly establish standing.
The International Trade Commission will recommend a tariff-rate quota on imports of polyester staple fiber, as well as an absolute quota on temporary imports under bond of the product -- starting at zero -- as Section 201 safeguard remedies to be considered by President Joe Biden.
Consumers who purchase the drug omeprazole are the "ultimate" purchasers of imported prescription medication, not the retail pharmacy that may be supplying the drug, the CBP ruled June 14.
President Joe Biden is again increasing the quantity of solar cells allowed under a Section 201 safeguard tariff-rate quota, he said in a proclamation issued Aug. 12. Retroactively effective for entries on or after Aug. 1, imports up to a 12.5 GW limit will now be allowed in duty-free, up from 5 GW prior to that date.
International Trade Today is providing readers with the top stories from last week in case they were missed. All articles can be found by searching on the titles or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference number.