International Trade Today is providing readers with the top stories from May 3-7 in case they were missed. All articles can be found by searching on the titles or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference number.
CBP will be moving drawback operations from within dedicated drawback centers and into the Centers of Excellence and Expertise, said Sharolyn McCann, director, Commercial Operations, Revenue and Entry, Office of Trade. McCann, who recently replaced Randy Mitchell in that role, spoke May 4 during the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America conference. "We are hoping to have this transition completed by the end of the fiscal year, the end of September," she said.
Akin Gump added Cindy Owens, previously with Covington & Burling, as a counsel in its international trade practice, the firm said in a news release. Owens “represents multinational clients on customs matters, including classification, valuation, country of origin, drawback, transfer pricing, foreign trade zones, bonded warehouses, free trade agreements and general entry process requirements,” it said.
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:
Across dozens of pages of written answers to Senate Finance Committee members, U.S. trade representative nominee Katherine Tai often avoided directly answering questions, instead pledging to work with senators on their priorities. One of the most common questions posed to Tai was whether she would renew Section 301 exclusions that expired last year; as well, whether she would allow companies that were denied exclusions another chance at a request; and whether she would reopen the exclusion process.
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:
The American Apparel and Footwear Association, the Accessories Council, the Travel Goods Association and the Council of Fashion Designers of America are asking Congress to change drawback laws so that companies can file for duty drawback on merchandise that is donated to charities. “Currently, duty drawback, or recouping duties already paid, is only available to companies if they destroy the merchandise, the last thing we need as both companies and families struggle. Creating such a provision would be a win-win, enabling companies to unlock much needed funds currently trapped in the surplus inventory created by the crisis, while at the same time helping Americans negatively impacted by the [COVID-19] pandemic with donations of clothes and shoes they need for themselves and their families,” they wrote in a letter to Congress Feb. 1.