U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a final rule announcing that it has been informed by the State Department that discriminating or countervailing duties are not imposed by the government of the Cook Islands on vessels owned by citizens of the U.S. Accordingly, vessels of the Cook Islands are exempt from special tonnage taxes and light money in ports of the U.S. This rule amends CBP regulations by adding the Cook Islands to the list of nations whose vessels are exempt from payment of any higher duties than are applicable to vessels of the U.S. and from the payment of light money. The exemption for vessels registered in the Cook Islands became applicable on August 22, 2011.

On October 13, 2011, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers and import specialists assigned to the Los Angeles/Long Beach seaport discovered and seized 14,900 children’s pajamas in violation of the Paul Frank trademark in a shipment arriving from Indonesia. The shipment contained counterfeit Paul Frank’s trademark characters: Blue Julius, Red Scurvy, Purple Scurvy and Pink Scurvy. The infringing merchandise has an estimated domestic value of $92,700. If the trademark had been genuine, the manufacturer’s suggested retail price of the pajama shipment would have been $537,000.

On November 2, 2011, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Bersin spoke to the International Association of Chiefs of Police on CBP's global data collection and risk-assessment capabilities for cargo and passengers used to fight terrorism. He stated that CBP has launched a new era of trusted shipper and trusted traveler programs, reaping the benefit of reams of new information that comes with these members. However, he stated CBP needs to put more resources on the 1-2% of cargo and travelers whose compliance with standards is uncertain. Bersin stated that no nation can secure itself without the support of allies and that security must be borderless. CBP believes strengthening partnerships with police entities around the world is the keystone to continued success in the agency's counter terrorism efforts.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection's November 2, 2011 Customs Bulletin (Vol. 45, No. 45) contains 10 notices of ruling actions:

U.S. Customs and Border Protection and has issued the following news releases:

U.S. Customs and Border Protection 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.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted the weekly foreign currency exchange rate multipliers for the week ending October 28, 2011.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued its weekly tariff rate quota and tariff preference level commodity report as of October 31, 2011.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted the following documents for the Customs Automated Manifest Interface Requirements (CAMIR) for Ocean ACE M1:

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted an updated list of the interest rates (updated for the fourth quarter of 2011) for additional duty payments owed to Customs as a result of reconciliation. CBP notes that when a reconciliation results in additional monies owed CBP, the payment must be made with interest, calculated by the filer using the rates provided in the list. For October 1 - December 31, 2011 the rate is 3%.