Congress passed the Customs Business Fairness Act on Dec. 21 as part of the latest coronavirus relief package, changing the way U.S. bankruptcy law will apply to customs brokers when importers become insolvent.

What a year! If you had told me in January that we would all turn from "road warriors" to "couch/zoom warriors," I would not have believed it. And yet, here we are.

Some U.S. companies have found themselves unable to secure refunds on import duties that qualify for exclusions from Section 301 China tariffs because the product exclusions were not granted by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) until after their import entries were liquidated.

Washington, D.C., Dec. 1, 2020 – The National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA) has appointed Christopher Gillis as communications director, effective Dec. 1.

NCBFAA's 47th Annual Conference is right around the corner! In case you missed it, last week we announced our Annual Conference program. If you haven't had a chance to check it out, we highly recommend that you take a look at one of our most diverse and informative set of panels and discussions we've had to date! These are can't miss topics and issues that will affect the way you and your business operate in the coming year.

The NCBFAA is pleased to announce that the program for our 47th Annual Conference is now available! The NCBFAA Conference Committee has once again done an amazing job assembling the topics and issues most likely to affect the way you and your business operates in the coming year. You'll hear industry leaders and subject matter experts discuss:

On February 5, nearly 1,000 viewers tuned in to an NEI-sponsored webinar featuring the APHIS ACE team and NCBFAA RAC Committee member Stuart Schmidt to learn more about the new APHIS-Core electronic filing requirements, which will be mandatory August 3, 2020. The APHIS team provided an overview of the new process and encouraged brokers to explore the resources APHIS has made available, such as the APHIS Core Trade Guide, which has detailed and useful information for the trade. Right now, electronic filing for APHIS-Core is voluntary, but brokers are urged to begin using ACE for APHIS-Core filings so that you will be ready when the August 3 date arrives. If you missed the webinar, you can access it here.

NCBFAA joined more than 80 other trade organizations to urge House leaders to approve HR 4482, Protecting America's Food and Agriculture Act. The legislation, which NCBFAA members lobbied members of Congress to support during the recent Government Affairs Conference, would authorize funding for additional agriculture inspectors at the ports. In the letter to House Homeland Security Chairman Bennie Thompson and Ranking Member Mike Rogers, the trade associations explained the "vital role" that CBP Agricultural Specialists play in "both trade and travel safety....prevent[ing] the introduction of harmful foreign animal diseases and exotic plant pests into the U.S."

On January 15, 2020, the Federal Maritime Commission ("Commission") held its first meeting of the year. At that time, the Commission voted to issue and publish two final rules: (1) one rule implementing the Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018, and (2) one modifying the hearing procedures governing the denial, revocation, or suspension of an ocean transportation intermediary ("OTI") license.

Last week, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced that they had selected nine participants to take part in their Section 321 Data pilot. The pilot participants are: Amazon, eBay, Zulily, FedEx, DHL, UPS, PreClear, XB Fulfillment and BoxC Logistics.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has provided guidance for the additional duties on U.S. imports of Brazilian products that are subject to the July 30 Executive Order (EO), “Addressing Threats to the United States by the Government of Brazil,” and will become effective at 12:01 a.m. ET on Aug. 6.

The NCBFAA Customs Committee and Counsel of Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A., are reviewing the details of the numerous reciprocal tariffs that took effect Aug. 1, the new 35% Canadian product tariff, the Section 232 import duties on copper and copper derivative products, and the end to de minimis for commercial shipments effective on Aug. 29. The Committee will report any ongoing Customs and Border Protection (CBP) guidance related to these White House actions to our customs broker members as soon as it’s released by the agency.

Recognizing the rapid and unexpected increase in duties, customs brokers and warehouse proprietors increasingly are encountering situations of unclaimed, rejected, and abandoned cargo. In response, the NCBFAA Customs Committee, Transportation Committee, Committee Counsel, and Leadership have collaboratively developed a guidance document to assist NCBFAA Regular Members to address the recurring questions regarding this cargo and to clarify the rights of the transacting parties, as well as service providers.

The Vanguard Pest Control treatment provider informed the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) that it will discontinue phytosanitary fumigations and close its treatment facility at the Newark, New Jersey, location at the end of July. APHIS provided guidance to the trade.

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

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has provided guidance for the additional duties on U.S. imports of Brazilian products that are subject to the July 30 Executive Order (EO), “Addressing Threats to the United States by the Government of Brazil,” and will become effective at 12:01 a.m. ET on Aug. 6.

The NCBFAA Customs Committee and Counsel of Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A., are reviewing the details of the numerous reciprocal tariffs that took effect Aug. 1, the new 35% Canadian product tariff, the Section 232 import duties on copper and copper derivative products, and the end to de minimis for commercial shipments effective on Aug. 29. The Committee will report any ongoing Customs and Border Protection (CBP) guidance related to these White House actions to our customs broker members as soon as it’s released by the agency.

Recognizing the rapid and unexpected increase in duties, customs brokers and warehouse proprietors increasingly are encountering situations of unclaimed, rejected, and abandoned cargo. In response, the NCBFAA Customs Committee, Transportation Committee, Committee Counsel, and Leadership have collaboratively developed a guidance document to assist NCBFAA Regular Members to address the recurring questions regarding this cargo and to clarify the rights of the transacting parties, as well as service providers.

The Vanguard Pest Control treatment provider informed the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) that it will discontinue phytosanitary fumigations and close its treatment facility at the Newark, New Jersey, location at the end of July. APHIS provided guidance to the trade.

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) has provided guidance for the additional duties on U.S. imports of Brazilian products that are subject to the July 30 Executive Order (EO), “Addressing Threats to the United States by the Government of Brazil,” and will become effective at 12:01 a.m. ET on Aug. 6.

The NCBFAA Customs Committee and Counsel of Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A., are reviewing the details of the numerous reciprocal tariffs that took effect Aug. 1, the new 35% Canadian product tariff, the Section 232 import duties on copper and copper derivative products, and the end to de minimis for commercial shipments effective on Aug. 29. The Committee will report any ongoing Customs and Border Protection (CBP) guidance related to these White House actions to our customs broker members as soon as it’s released by the agency.

Recognizing the rapid and unexpected increase in duties, customs brokers and warehouse proprietors increasingly are encountering situations of unclaimed, rejected, and abandoned cargo. In response, the NCBFAA Customs Committee, Transportation Committee, Committee Counsel, and Leadership have collaboratively developed a guidance document to assist NCBFAA Regular Members to address the recurring questions regarding this cargo and to clarify the rights of the transacting parties, as well as service providers.

The Vanguard Pest Control treatment provider informed the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) that it will discontinue phytosanitary fumigations and close its treatment facility at the Newark, New Jersey, location at the end of July. APHIS provided guidance to the trade.

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