Monday Morning eBriefing

President Biden announced March 1, as well as highlighted during his State of the Union, that his administration will take a multiprong regulatory and legislative action aimed at lowering consumer prices and leveling the playing field in ocean container shipping.

NCBFAA’s agenda for its 49th Annual Conference in Tucson, Arizona, on May 1-4, promises to enlighten and educate our members on the most important regulatory and legislative topics impacting their businesses today!

The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has issued a final rule to add new export license requirements and review policies for Belarus to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) in response to that country’s enabling of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

It may still be cold outside, but let’s not put our momentum to make the Customs Business Fairness Act (CBFA) (H.R. 4186) permanent on ice. We need each of our members to continue reaching out to their Congressional Members on Capitol Hill to let them know just how important this legislation is to our industry.

The NCBFAA Transportation Committee’s Logistics Subcommittee is regularly collecting data on the nation’s rail delays and port congestion that are impacting the supply chain and your business operations.

Here is a summary of the latest legislative and regulatory transport, logistics and trade sector updates brought to you by our NCBFAA Transportation Counsel firm Venable:

Every customs broker knows that interacting with Partner Government Agencies (PGAs) can be the most challenging part of their job. The PGA data requirements are often demanding. And, on top of that, there are just so many agencies!

It may still be cold outside, but let’s not put our momentum to make the Customs Business Fairness Act (CBFA) (H.R. 4186) permanent on ice. We need each of our members to continue reaching out to their Congressional Members on Capitol Hill to let them know just how important this legislation is to our industry.

Here is a summary of the latest customs and cross-border trade regulatory updates brought to you by our NCBFAA Customs Counsel firm Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg:

An NCBFAA Regulatory Agencies Committee (RAC) Subcommittee met with a team from the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to explore ways to increase the use of e-phytosanitary certificates by the trade.

The NCBFAA Nominating Committee, in accordance with NCBFAA by-laws, has recently completed the 2022 Officers Slate for vote by eligible Regular members by the time of the upcoming Annual Conference.

The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have continued to postpone their “Container Dwell Fee,” and said they will reconsider its possible imposition on March 4.

The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have continued to postpone their “Container Dwell Fee,” and said they will reconsider its possible imposition on March 4.

Every customs broker knows that interacting with Partner Government Agencies (PGAs) can be the most challenging part of their job. The PGA data requirements are often demanding. And, on top of that, there are just so many agencies!

The NCBFAA Transportation Committee’s Logistics Subcommittee is regularly collecting data on the nation’s rail delays and port congestion that are impacting the supply chain and your business operations.

The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) issued a final rule, which took effect Feb. 24, to implement the Biden Administration’s sanctions against Russia under the Export Administration Regulations (EAR).

It has come to NCBFAA’s attention that some of our members (particularly our smaller members) are encountering attempts by ocean carriers to amend, alter or otherwise deviate from agreed-to terms and conditions in valid service contracts. We understand in some cases, carriers are seeking to cancel existing contracts, as well.

Customs Brokers may be liable for charges under current practices by ocean carriers naming them as “merchant” as listed in terms and conditions of their master bills of lading. The carriers’ intention by use of a broad definition of merchant casts a wide net over multiple parties they can hold responsible for charges related to the bill of lading.

It may still be cold outside, but let’s not put our momentum to make the Customs Business Fairness Act (CBFA) (H.R. 4186) permanent on ice. We need each of our members to continue reaching out to their Congressional Members on Capitol Hill to let them know just how important this legislation is to our industry.

It has come to NCBFAA’s attention that some of our members (particularly our smaller members) are encountering attempts by ocean carriers to amend, alter or otherwise deviate from agreed-to terms and conditions in valid service contracts. We understand in some cases, carriers are seeking to cancel existing contracts, as well.