CBP published a set of new guidance documents for importers on the agency’s enforcement of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act on Feb. 23, including new answers to frequently asked questions on its website, best practices for submitting documentation to prove detained goods aren’t subject to UFLPA, and guidance on how executive summaries and tables of contents should be put together for that documentation.
The National Legal and Policy Center urged Apple shareholders to vote for a proposal appearing on their proxy ballots that would require Apple to file annual reports to the shareholders on the company's involvement with China. The recommendation came in a Proxy Memorandum sent to the Securities and Exchange Commission Feb. 14.
International Trade Today is providing readers with the top stories from last week in case they were missed. All articles can be found by searching on the titles or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference number.
U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai hailed the introduction in Mexico of a resolution that would ban the importation of merchandise made with forced labor, calling it an "important step forward." Tai said once it passes, it will help North American countries tackle transshipment.
CBP is unlikely to publicly list every entity that it determines engages in forced labor, said Ana Hinojosa, the former executive director of CBP's Trade Remedy Law Enforcement Directorate. Although importers want CBP to provide them with a comprehensive list of potential companies not to work with, Hinojosa said it would be “an impossibility” based on how quickly companies change names after getting caught.
The Senate Finance Committee's chairman and ranking member said it's time to turn their attention to customs modernization, with both saying any bill will need to both enhance enforcement and make legitimate trade move faster and with more certainty.
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:
CBP released a notice Feb. 14 on its upcoming Forced Labor Technical Expo, to be held March 14-15 in Washington and virtually. “The event will feature industry presentations on the latest technologies in supply chain transparency,” and include panel discussions on “forced labor initiatives and future technologies” featuring CBP, DHS and other government agency officials, CBP said. Registration to attend in person is due March 1, and space is limited, the agency said. The event will also be live streamed by CBP. The agency also included a link to a website for the event, though the page was unavailable as of press time.
International Trade Today is providing readers with the top stories from last week in case they were missed. All articles can be found by searching on the titles or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference number.
Wiley attorney Tim Brightbill, in a recent webinar on what to expect in trade in 2023, said he expects a bill to make significant changes to antidumping and countervailing duty law to be introduced in Congress soon. The bill, colloquially known as Level the Playing Field Act 2.0, was introduced in the previous Congress by Ohio's two senators. The administration expressed support for the proposal, but it faced skepticism among Republicans in Congress (see 2204220036 and 2104160037).