Monday Morning eBriefing

Due to the NCBFAA Legislative Committee’s continued lobbying on Capitol Hill, the Customs Business Fairness Act (CBFA) (H.R. 4186) has recently gained its 21st congressional co-sponsor.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has provided guidance on the new Section 301 modifications made to certain Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) classifications within the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule.

NCBFAA is saddened to report the Jan. 7 passing of Elizabeth “Beth” Doyle Mince who was a longtime, active member of the Atlanta logistics industry and known to many customs brokers and freight forwarders throughout the region.

B&H Customs Services Inc. is a small family-run operation. Started by Benjamin Park in 1989, B&H Customs Services has focused on compliance specifically in the food industry. We are well-versed in the rules and regulations dealing with USDA, FSIS, APHIS, and FDA. We also consult for many Korean government agencies to assist in promoting Korean food products in the U.S. market. Now transitioning to a new generation, Timothy Park has taken the lead to guide the company through the ever-changing landscape of broader import industry. For more information, check out the company’s website.

Mexican transportation companies must now generate an accurate “Carta Porte Supplement” or bill of lading with the corresponding “CFDI” or Digital Fiscal Document via the Internet. The Carta Porte Supplement, along with the CFDI of Revenues and other associated import documents, must be in the driver’s possession while hauling the related merchandise across the Mexico-U.S. borde

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.

January’s trending topics on Guidance on HR, Business Management and Operational Risk brought to you by Paychex:

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:

Starting March 19, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will no longer accept Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) Admission Adds without the expanded Zone ID included in the FT10 header data. The Zone ID expanded from 7 to 9 characters and must be included on the FT10 Record or the FTZ Admission will reject.

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!

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:

NCBFAA members have expressed interest in the NEI becoming an IATA-accredited “training school” that offers dangerous goods certification. There is a significant financial and structural investment involved in acquiring IATA accreditation.

Beginning Feb. 28, the USDA Agriculture Marketing Service (AMS) will begin mandatory ACE filing of the AMS Marketing Order (MO) Message Set.

January’s trending topics on Guidance on HR, Business Management and Operational Risk brought to you by Paychex:

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:

Forwarders spend a good deal of energy explaining export compliance responsibilities to the less educated exporters, only to hear that “you are the only forwarder who is asking me for this information.” The association, in response, provides members an NCBFAA branded USPPI Responsibility Information Sheet as a tool that can be forwarded to or handed out to your export customers.

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 Jan. 28.

The O*NET Data Collection Program, which is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, is seeking the input of expert Customs Brokers. As the nation's most comprehensive source of occupational data, O*NET is a public resource for millions of job seekers, employers, veterans, educators, and students at www.onetonline.org.

Due to the NCBFAA Legislative Committee’s ongoing lobbying on Capitol Hill, the Customs Business Fairness Act (CBFA) (H.R. 4186) has recently gained three new congressional co-sponsors for CBFA, giving us a total of 20.

Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), chairman of the House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee, announced new legislation on Jan. 18 that he said would strengthen U.S. international trade import laws to stop non-market economies and goods from “exploiting” the de minimis threshold that allows imports valued under $800 to enter U.S. commerce without paying duties, taxes, or fees.