On March 22, 2013, the U.S. Senate introduced a bill that would aim to strengthen the trade facilitation and enforcement efforts of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Reauthorization Act of 2013 would, among other items: • Strengthen trade enforcement to target cargo [...]
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is continuing to advance its Role of the Broker initiative, which seeks to meaningfully transform the relationship between CBP and customs brokers by recognizing their role as a communicator and force multiplier to increase compliance. As one part of this initiative CBP will soon conduct a test in which up to nine [...]
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has proposed significant changes to its regulations on the certificates of compliance required to be submitted for imported and domestically-made consumer products. There are a number of issues left unresolved by this proposal and interested parties have until July 29 to submit questions and comments. The Consumer Product Safety Improvement [...]
In December 2012, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a $45 million settlement with an importer of pigment used in ink manufacturing. The importer had been charged with misdeclaring the country of origin of the pigment. The issue was whether certain intermediate processing operations were sufficient for the imported product to be declared as [...]
The Federal Trade Commission is accepting comments through July 8 on a proposed rule that aims to clarify and update the Textile Labeling Rules and make them more flexible, giving businesses more compliance options without imposing significant new obligations. The Textile Rules require that certain textiles sold in the U.S. carry labels disclosing the generic [...]
Trade community members who have utilized the Centers of Excellence and Expertise being opened by U.S. Customs and Border Protection have largely had a positive experience, according an initial survey of CEE users conducted in March. Just over half the 769 survey respondents identified themselves as importers, and the industries most represented among respondents were [...]
Hosted in conjunction with the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants, IE Canada’s intensive three-day Customs Duty and International Trade Course is a practical tool providing importers and exporters with up-to-date knowledge to navigate and succeed in the global trade arena. A team of top trade and customs experts will outline the main rules that govern the [...]
On April 18, 2013, CBP announced the opening of three new Centers of Excellence and Expertise (CEE): Base Metals in Chicago; Industrial & Manufacturing Materials (IMM) in Buffalo, N.Y., and Machinery in Laredo, Texas. The virtual centers are the product of extensive collaboration between industry stakeholders and CBP. CBP is currently accepting applications from importers [...]
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is seeking no later than June 17 information that could be used to ease the requirement for certain children’s products to be tested by a third-party CPSC-accepted laboratory for compliance with applicable safety rules. The CPSC is seeking data and information on whether there are materials used in the manufacture [...]
Amber Road invites you to attend their upcoming FREE webinar, Export Control Reform Update: Preparing for Transition, broadcasting live on Tuesday, April 23 at 2PM EDT. President Obama’s Export Control Reform (ECR) initiative is well under way, with significant changes anticipated over the coming months. This webinar will focus on the Administration’s recent progress on [...]
Written testimony of DHS Management Directorate, U.S. Customs & Border Protection, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement and the Transportation Security Administration for a House Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Oversight and Management Efficiency hearing titled “The Impact of Sequestration on Homeland Security: Scare Tactics or Possible Threat?” “While our recently enacted appropriations will help [...]
The International Trade Administration has issued a final rule that, effective May 10, will amend its regulations regarding the definition of factual information and the submission of factual information in antidumping and countervailing duty proceedings. This rule: – modifies the definition of factual information to include five categories: (1) evidence submitted in response to questionnaires, [...]
On Tuesday April 16, 2013, U.S. Customs and Border Protection will host a webinar twice on CBP’s National Customs Automation Program Test concerning “Manifesting and Entry of Residue found in Instruments of International Traffic (IITs).” The one-hour webinars are primarily geared towards those companies that may be eligible to participate on the test. This is [...]
GHY will be participating in an upcoming CME Manitoba seminar that will bring together government officials, experienced professionals, and service providers to share solutions related to cross-border issues. Gain practical information and advice to help improve the flow of people, goods, and services across the Canada – US border. Speakers will provide an overview of [...]
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has announced an expansion and modification of a general test concerning its Centers of Excellence and Expertise, which aim to facilitate the entry of merchandise imported by companies within certain industries. A notice concerning this test, including the application process and eligibility and selection criteria, is available in the April [...]
This complimentary one-hour webinar, presented by F. Gordon Lee of Nossaman LLP, is designed to provide importers, customs brokers, freight forwarders and the international trade community with practical thoughts and ideas on how to effectively deal with many issues that arise when importing into the United States and dealing with United States Customs and Border Protection. Topics covered during [...]
The U.S. Supreme Court has removed a major barricade for cross-border e-commerce, ruling that so long as a product isn’t pirated, U.S. retailers can import it without violating copyright law. In practice, that means an online retailer can sell U.S. customers many products that are lower priced — and were never intended to be sold [...]
Last Chance To Register! Every article of foreign origin entering the U.S. must be legibly marked with its country of origin. This requirement places great responsibility on manufacturers and importers and exposes trade professionals to possible penalties or even sanctions for non-compliance. This webinar will provide attendees with a basic overview of the country of [...]
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is gathering public input on the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership agreement with the European Union, including U.S. interests and priorities, to help it develop U.S. negotiating positions. Written comments are due no later than May 10 and a hearing will be held May 29-30 in Washington, [...]
On March 11, 2013, USTR sent a letter to the US International Trade Commission (ITC) advising the ITC that negotiators from the NAFTA parties reach agreement in principle on the fourth series of proposed modifications to the NAFTA origin rules. Based on this letter, the ITC has opened Investigation No. TA-103-027, Probable Economic Effect of [...]
