A summary of the latest legislative and regulatory transport, logistics and trade sector updates brought to you by our NCBFAA Transportation Counsel firm Venable.

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) has released its newly revised Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) for 2024.

The trade was caught off guard by the Biden Administration's surprise Executive Order to expand a previous Order banning Russian seafood imports. Issued Dec. 22, the order prohibits imports of seafood products processed in third countries that contain seafood harvested in Russian waters or caught by Russian-flag vessels.

The 51st NCBFAA Annual Conference at the Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa on April 14-17, 2024, will be here before we know it.

The Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Laredo Field Office on Dec. 29 told the trade that al eight ports of entry within the Laredo area are open and continue to process commercial shipments which are transported by truck and rail.

In support of the Executive Order and the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) determination of Dec. 22, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will now require importers to provide self-certification that fish, seafood, and seafood containing products imported into the U.S. do not contain any inputs originating from the Russian Federation.

A summary of the latest legislative and regulatory transport, logistics and trade sector updates brought to you by our NCBFAA Transportation Counsel firm Venable.

As per CSMS # 56721104 - Announcement of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Cargo Messages, on Jan. 16 customs brokers will begin receiving messages on entry summaries that are potentially noncompliant for antidumping and countervailing duties (AD/CVD), while the entry summaries are in trade control (prior to the entry moving to statement).

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) on Dec. 26 announced the further extension through May 31, 2024, of the reinstated and COVID-related exclusions in the China Section 301 Investigation.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is deploying the Hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) code to CBP’s PRODUCTION environment on Jan. 13. The EPA HFC flags (EH1, EH2) will be enforced with a reject severity following the deployment.

Customs and Border Protection on Aug. 29 provided guidance to the trade on the extension of certain product specific exclusions and certain manufacturing equipment exclusions from Section 301 duties on imports of Chinese goods through Nov. 29, 2025.

The NCBFAA Customs Committee and Counsel of Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A., is actively tracking the impacts of the Aug. 29 suspension of de minimis for all commercial shipments, as well as the imposition of additional tariffs on Indian products. In addition, the Committee is closely monitoring the ongoing discussions between the U.S. and EU to reach a new trade agreement.

The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) issued a final rule to remove entities from the Validated End-User (VEU) authorization list for China.

The State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) issued a final rule amending the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). This rule adopts the interim final rule that DDTC previously published on Jan. 17, 2025, with some changes.

The U.S. Census Bureau on Aug. 14 published a final rule making clarifications to the Foreign Trade Regulations (FTR). However, the agency on Aug. 27 followed up with a Federal Register notice including corrections to this final rule in § 30.1, 30.3, and Appendix B to Part 30.

Customs and Border Protection on Aug. 29 provided guidance to the trade on the extension of certain product specific exclusions and certain manufacturing equipment exclusions from Section 301 duties on imports of Chinese goods through Nov. 29, 2025.

The NCBFAA Customs Committee and Counsel of Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A., is actively tracking the impacts of the Aug. 29 suspension of de minimis for all commercial shipments, as well as the imposition of additional tariffs on Indian products. In addition, the Committee is closely monitoring the ongoing discussions between the U.S. and EU to reach a new trade agreement.

NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) completed its comparability findings for all worldwide fisheries under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The Federal Register notice will be published Sept 2.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) today announced the extension of exclusions in the Section 301 Investigation of China’s Acts, Policies, and Practices Related to Technology Transfer, Intellectual Property, and Innovation. The exclusions were previously scheduled to expire on Aug. 31. The exclusions have now been extended through Nov. 29, 2025.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) continues to update to its list of qualified parties to pay duties on international mail shipments. As outlined in an Executive Order, duty on international mail shipments must be paid by the international mail carrier or a qualified party acting in lieu of the carrier.

Customs and Border Protection on Aug. 29 provided guidance to the trade on the extension of certain product specific exclusions and certain manufacturing equipment exclusions from Section 301 duties on imports of Chinese goods through Nov. 29, 2025.

The NCBFAA Customs Committee and Counsel of Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A., is actively tracking the impacts of the Aug. 29 suspension of de minimis for all commercial shipments, as well as the imposition of additional tariffs on Indian products. In addition, the Committee is closely monitoring the ongoing discussions between the U.S. and EU to reach a new trade agreement.

The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) issued a final rule to remove entities from the Validated End-User (VEU) authorization list for China.

The State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) issued a final rule amending the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). This rule adopts the interim final rule that DDTC previously published on Jan. 17, 2025, with some changes.

The U.S. Census Bureau on Aug. 14 published a final rule making clarifications to the Foreign Trade Regulations (FTR). However, the agency on Aug. 27 followed up with a Federal Register notice including corrections to this final rule in § 30.1, 30.3, and Appendix B to Part 30.