The International Trade Data System has posted the 2008 quarter 1 issue of its ITDS e-Newsletter. The newsletter covers the Coast Guard joining ITDS, CPSC announcing the development of a new Import Surveillance Division, the completion of the first version of the ACE Portal Reports Dictionary, etc. (e-Newsletter available at http://www.itds.gov/linkhandler/itds/news/e_newsletters/1st_qrtr_nwsltr.ctt/1st_qtr_nwsltr.pdf)
The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued a proposed rule to amend the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to clarify the license requirement for certain in-transit exports, reexports, or in-country transfers.
The leadership of the House Energy and Commerce Committee has posted a "discussion draft" of the Food and Drug Administration Globalization Act of 2008 to tackle the problem of tainted imports, create a registry of food and drug importers, etc. The Committee will be holding a hearing on this issue on April 24, 2008. (Memo on "Discussion Draft", dated 04/17/08, available at http://energycommerce.house.gov/FDAGlobalAct-08/041708.DiscDraft.Memo.pdf; "Discussion Draft" available at http://energycommerce.house.gov/FDAGlobalAct-08/Dingel_60AXML.pdf.)
The Census Bureau has announced that effective April 28, 2008, certain Automated Export System (AES) reporting requirements for export license exceptions administered by BIS under the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) will change.
USA Today states that the Transportation Security Administration's plans to screen all cargo on passenger planes could lead to longer delivery times for packages shipped through the air. The plan would rely on manufacturers and freight forwarders screening packages with x-ray machines and explosive sensors before delivery to airports. (See ITT's Online Archives or 03/31/08 news, 08033115, for BP summary of TSA notice on limited rollout of Certified Cargo Screening program.) (04/09/08, http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-04-09-Aircargo_N.htm )
On April 10, 2008, the Senate amended and passed H.R. 3221, New Direction for Energy Independence, National Security, and Consumer Protection Act and the Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act. The House passed its version of H.R. 3221 on August 4, 2007. (Congressional Record, dated 04/10/08, available at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/B?r110:@FIELD(FLD003d)@FIELD(DDATE20080410).
At the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America's Annual Conference, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Basham stated that he expects CBP to publish a final rule in Summer 2008 to require Security Filing (SF) information from importers and additional information from carriers (10+2) for vessel (maritime) cargo before it is brought into the U.S.
The Treasury Department has published its current list of countries that require or may require participation in, or cooperation with, an international boycott. The countries included on this list are:
The Los Angeles Times reports that Mexico's government is preparing to open bidding on the largest infrastructure project in its history, a $4-billion seaport on Mexico's Baja peninsula, that would link the Pacific Ocean to the U.S. heartland. Vessels bearing shipping containers from Asia would offload them at the new port where they would be taken over newly constructed rail lines to the U.S. (Los Angeles Times, dated 03/25/08, available at http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-mexport25mar25,1,5870690.story)
Although U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the General Administration of China Customs recently began their C-TPAT validation pilot program with three volunteer C-TPAT importers in mid-March, CBP sources state that the validation visits have already occurred. The next step is for a validation report to be prepared which contains recommendations to address any supply chain security weaknesses. (See ITT's Online Archives or 03/26/08 news, 08032605, for earlier BP summary on this pilot.)