CBP plans to expand its presence in Laredo, Texas, by opening a Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) office, according to Peter Touhy, director of the Miami C-TPAT field office within CBP’s Office of Field Operations.
CBP plans to add a new ACE functionality that will automate the removal and restoration of Entry Type 86 test participants, it said in the latest version of its ACE development schedule, released Aug. 5.
Trade associations are generally pleased with the trade facilitation discussion draft issued in the Senate last week (see 2407310037), though they all noted that moving to a true one-U.S.-government data submission and release regime requires money, which may not follow, even if the bill becomes law.
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York last week ordered importer Delta Uniforms and its owner, George Iloulian, to pay over $1.3 million for avoiding customs duties on medical uniforms, footwear and other apparel. Judge Paul Gardephe said they violated the False Claims Act and must pay triple the amount of the evaded duties and a $557,880 civil penalty.
Alba Wheels Up announced Luis Eraña is its new CEO on July 30. Eraña, previously CEO of ProTrans, replaces Damien Stile, who will now be co-chairman of the customs broker and freight forwarder.
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The Federal Maritime Commission continues to consider a request to delay its new final rule on demurrage and detention billing requirements, said Rich Roche, who chairs the Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier Subcommittee of the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America.
The Court of International Trade denied Seko Customs Brokerage's bids for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against its temporary suspension from the Entry Type 86 Test and Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism programs. Judge Claire Kelly found Seko already received all the relief it sought when it was conditionally reinstated into the programs and told why it was originally suspended.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it has clarified and simplified the process to import dogs to the U.S. following concerns coming from industry partners and various countries that planned changes to the importation rules would make the importation process too complicated.
A coalition of business groups, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers, the E-Merchants Trade Council, the National Foreign Trade Council and the Express Association of America, is pushing back against the de minimis legislation that was approved in the House Ways and Means Committee earlier this year, arguing that it would be "a massive cost to the federal government," shift trade to the mail, and create congestion at airports and a wave of abandoned packages.