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

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reminded filers to ensure that proper steps are followed when changing a Port of Entry after ACE data is transmitted.

Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) on June 14 introduced the De Minimis Reciprocity Act of 2023 to stop China and other countries from “abusing U.S. trade laws that allow small dollar imports into the U.S. duty free.”

As of Friday, June 16, the Senate has reportedly put the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2023 process on hold, and for now the amendment process has not been reopened.

While NCBFAA member outreach to Members of Congress in recent months has netted significant support for the Customs Business Fairness Act (H.R. 1453), the summer is no time for the association to rest if we are going to achieve our long-sought goal to make this important legislation to our industry permanent in the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in 2023.

The Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) and International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) on June 14 reached a tentative agreement on a new six-year contract covering workers at all 29 West Coast ports. The deal was reached with assistance from Acting U.S. Labor Secretary Julie Su.

CBP will reduce the number of continuing education credits required for the first triennial reporting period beginning in February 2024 under its upcoming final rule on continuing education requirements for customs brokers, CBP acting Commissioner Troy Miller said in opening remarks at the Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee meeting on June 14.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on June 13 published an updated fact sheet for how customs broker permit reporting should occur in the Modernized ACE.

The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on June 14 issued Fact Sheet: Provision of Humanitarian Assistance and Trade to Combat COVID-19 to provide guidance on OFAC’s exemptions, exceptions, and authorizations for humanitarian assistance for and trade with Iran, Venezuela, North Korea, Syria, Cuba, and Russia.

The USDA Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) reminds customs brokers and other members of the importing community that an APHIS Core Message Set for clearance must be filed BEFORE moving cargo to a Plant Inspection Station (PIS) for inspection. Failure to do so will result in cargo delays.

The NCBFAA Customs Committee and Counsel of Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A., is monitoring on behalf of our customs broker members the recent letters sent to more than 20 countries by the Trump administration calling for the implementation of varying amounts of tariffs to be imposed by 12:01 a.m. ET on Aug. 1, as well as the imposition of 50% tariffs on copper imports. This memo also provides key tariff-related guidance provided to the trade by Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on July 15 will deploy a new drawback claim error message in the ACE production environment.

The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has recently released enhancements and new features on the agency’s website bis.gov.

The U.S. Supreme Court on July 9 lifted a lower court that blocked nearly a dozen federal government agencies from implementing layoffs and reorganizations involving hundreds of thousands of federal workers. The decision paves the way for these agencies to move forward with the reorganization and reduction-in-force plans, as required by Executive Order 14210 issued in March. The reorganization plans have been on hold since the May 2 injunction.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on July 9 announced an immediate shutdown of livestock imports from Mexico after a new world screwworm (NWS) case was reported north of the previous infestations. The announcement came just days after a risk-based phased port reopening strategy for cattle, bison and equine began.

The NCBFAA Customs Committee and Counsel of Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A., is monitoring on behalf of our customs broker members the recent letters sent to more than 20 countries by the Trump administration calling for the implementation of varying amounts of tariffs to be imposed by 12:01 a.m. ET on Aug. 1, as well as the imposition of 50% tariffs on copper imports. This memo also provides key tariff-related guidance provided to the trade by Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on July 15 will deploy a new drawback claim error message in the ACE production environment.

The U.S. Supreme Court on July 9 lifted a lower court that blocked nearly a dozen federal government agencies from implementing layoffs and reorganizations involving hundreds of thousands of federal workers. The decision paves the way for these agencies to move forward with the reorganization and reduction-in-force plans, as required by Executive Order 14210 issued in March. The reorganization plans have been on hold since the May 2 injunction.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on July 9 announced an immediate shutdown of livestock imports from Mexico after a new world screwworm (NWS) case was reported north of the previous infestations. The announcement came just days after a risk-based phased port reopening strategy for cattle, bison and equine began.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) abruptly rescinded its policy allowing de minimis for five product categories — a policy dating back to 1994. This means all shipments of these previously exempt products will now require a PGA Message Set.

The NCBFAA Customs Committee and Counsel of Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A., is monitoring on behalf of our customs broker members the recent letters sent to more than 20 countries by the Trump administration calling for the implementation of varying amounts of tariffs to be imposed by 12:01 a.m. ET on Aug. 1, as well as the imposition of 50% tariffs on copper imports. This memo also provides key tariff-related guidance provided to the trade by Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on July 15 will deploy a new drawback claim error message in the ACE production environment.

The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has recently released enhancements and new features on the agency’s website bis.gov.

The U.S. Supreme Court on July 9 lifted a lower court that blocked nearly a dozen federal government agencies from implementing layoffs and reorganizations involving hundreds of thousands of federal workers. The decision paves the way for these agencies to move forward with the reorganization and reduction-in-force plans, as required by Executive Order 14210 issued in March. The reorganization plans have been on hold since the May 2 injunction.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on July 9 announced an immediate shutdown of livestock imports from Mexico after a new world screwworm (NWS) case was reported north of the previous infestations. The announcement came just days after a risk-based phased port reopening strategy for cattle, bison and equine began.