CBP has posted an updated version of its CF 1400 (Record of Vessel in Foreign Trade Entrances) - an electronic query report for CF 1400 of the Vessel Management System (VMS), in accordance with 19 CFR 4.95, organized by entrances. CBP has also posted an updated CF 1401 (Record of Vessel in Foreign Trade Clearances) - an electronic query report for CF 1401 of the VMS, in accordance with 19 CFR 4.95, organized by clearances.
CBP has posted an updated version of its Public Automated Commercial System FIRMS (Facilities Information and Resources Management Systems) report that is organized by port code and alphabetically by company name.
On July 14, 2011, U.S. Customs and Border Protection issued a news release announcing that last month, working with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), CBP seized a shipment of imported children's toy jewelry for hazardous levels of lead. The shipment of toy jewelry coming from China was considered high-risk and had been targeted by CBP's Import Safety Commercial Targeting and Analysis Center (CTAC). The manufacturer’s suggested retail price of the shipment was approximately $340,000.
A listing of recent antidumping and countervailing duty messages posted to CBP's Web site, along with the case number(s), period covered, and CBP message number, is provided below. These messages are available by searching on the listed CBP message number at http://addcvd.cbp.gov.
CBP has issued a Federal Register notice that the third quarter 2011 (July 1 - September 30, 2011) Internal Revenue Service interest rates used to calculate interest on overdue accounts (underpayments) and refunds (overpayments) of customs duties are: 3% for overpayments by corporations; 4% for non-corporations; and 4% for underpayments, which remain the same from second quarter 2011 rates.
The Port of Long Beach announces that on July 13, only one lane of the westbound Gerald Desmond Bridge will be open during daylight hours. On July 14, only one lane of the eastbound bridge will be open during daylight hours. Caltrans is conducting a legally required bi-annual inspection of important steel structure elements. Drivers can expect delays on the bridge and are urged to take alternative routes such as the Terminal Island Freeway during the closure periods. Drivers are also encouraged to avoid West Anaheim Street because of lane closures at Santa Fe Avenue that are part of a road improvement project.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted a reminder to boaters of the availability of the Small Vessel Reporting System to the northern border. The online reporting tool is a voluntary program and will expedite the entry process for participating boaters entering or coming back into the U.S.
A listing of recent antidumping and countervailing duty messages posted to CBP's Web site, along with the case number(s), period covered, and CBP message number, is provided below. These messages are available by searching on the listed CBP message number at http://addcvd.cbp.gov.
The Office of Management and Budget has approved an Office of Personnel Management final rule to amend its regulations to reflect changes in the retirement benefits available to U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers.
The Port of Long Beach reports that Long Beach and Los Angeles Boards of Harbor Commissioners met jointly for a special workshop on July 7, 2011 to identify opportunities to move forward with a demonstration of zero-emission technologies in the neighboring ports. The discussion focused on ways to evaluate and eventually make commercially viable promising zero-emission technologies such as electric and fuel cell-assisted drayage trucks, locomotives with linear synchronous motors, and electric and fuel cell-assisted cargo-handling equipment. The "Roadmap for Zero Emissions - Overview" is available here. The archived webcast of the July 7 workshop is available here.