Published in the FEDERAL REGISTER on May 9, 2019, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has announced an increase in trade-remedy tariffs. The previously twice-delayed increase in trade-remedy tariffs assessed on products of Chinese origin pursuant to Section 301 Tranche 3 or List III will now be implemented. The notice provides for a two-part effective date and brokers need to consider the export and entry dates. The notice reads in part, "Effective with respect to goods (i) entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on May 10, 2019, and (ii) exported to the United States on or after May 10, 2019...". For goods meeting both qualifications, the trade-remedy tariff will increase from 10% to 25%. Thus, goods exported to the United States from China prior to May 10, 2019, will not be subject to the higher rate of duty.

Two years ago, the NCBFAA worked with the US Coast Guard (USCG) to challenge the attempts of the ocean carriers that would have required NVOCCs and shippers to provide a Verified Gross Mass (VGM) Certificate to the carriers in advance of tendering cargo. As you may recall, the VGM issue arose due to efforts by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), after several vessels capsized for unknown reasons, to adopt a method that would provide greater certainty about the weight of containers being loaded on vessels.

In their April 24 conference call, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) provided the trade with an update to the current state of southern border port operations. As a reminder, the NCBFAA is asking that if you have any questions for CBP that you would like to see answered in an upcoming call, please let us know and we will do our best to have them answered.

In an April 11 conference call, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) provided the trade an update to the current state of southern border port operations.

In an April 4 conference call, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) provided the trade an update to the current state of southern border port operations.

Last week, we reported that some of our members were receiving Form 5106 rejections for using an "Invalid Address." To help alleviate these issues, we highlighted a CSMS message from September 2007 in which U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) denoted how ACE validates addresses. For U.S. based addresses, you must find out if the address is valid by verifying it with the U.S. Postal Service. The same rules apply to both Canada and Mexico. CBP has also compiled a list of countries, their two-digit ISO codes and whether or not they require a zip code. You may find that information here.

Last week, we reported that members were experiencing a handful of problems with the 5106 functionality. After addressing issues surrounding "Delayed Importer/Bond Query (KI/KR) Response Times," U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) released a list of solutions to the most common errors users are reporting when inputting the Create/Update Importer Identity Form in ACE:

The National Oceanic Atmospheric Association (NOAA) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have extended the period of "informed compliance" for submission of SIMP data for shrimp and abalone until April 1. The informed compliance period was established to ensure the trade was prepared to successfully submit SIMP data for shrimp/abalone with their Entry. Beginning April 1, all shrimp and abalone entries that do not comply with the mandatory SIMP message set will be refused entry.

As previously reported, FMC Commissioner Rebecca Dye was placed in charge of Fact Finding Investigation 28 that was looking into carrier and port demurrage and detention practices. This investigation arose out of the Petition filed by the NCBFAA and a number of other trade associations requesting that the Commission issue a rule to extend free time on demurrage and detention in those instances where containers could not be picked up or returned due to circumstances beyond the control of NVOCCs and cargo owners.

High-value valuation reviews are reportedly being conducted by Chinese Customs in certain ports. A few of the NCBFAA's Export Compliance Sub-committee members have reported seeing these requests from their counterparts in China, requesting "Declaration Documents issued by US Customs on which could certify cargo actual value."

President Trump announced on Friday, Aug. 22, that his administration has initiated an investigation into furniture imports, with the possibility of imposing tariffs on these products later this year.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will hold its next Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee (COAC) quarterly meeting in Washington, D.C., from 1-5 p.m. ET on Sept. 17. The meeting will be open to the public via webinar only, the agency said.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on Aug. 21 updated its IEEPA Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to clarify the unstacking provisions. Specifically, under “IEEPA Overarching,” see the question, “What are the current unstacking provisions?”

The NCBFAA Customs Committee and Counsel of Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A., will continue to track the imposition of additional Section 232 tariffs on U.S. imports aluminum and steel derivatives, watch progress of the U.S. and European Union trade framework agreement announced on Aug. 21, and monitor the Canadian government’s commitment to end certain retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods by Sept. 1.

Customs and Border Protection said recent unannounced visits at Customs Bonded Facilities (CBF) have yielded numerous cases of violations. The agency reminds CBF operators of authorities that CBP Port Directors may exercise in cases of violations.

President Trump announced on Friday, Aug. 22, that his administration has initiated an investigation into furniture imports, with the possibility of imposing tariffs on these products later this year.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will hold its next Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee (COAC) quarterly meeting in Washington, D.C., from 1-5 p.m. ET on Sept. 17. The meeting will be open to the public via webinar only, the agency said.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on Aug. 21 updated its IEEPA Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to clarify the unstacking provisions. Specifically, under “IEEPA Overarching,” see the question, “What are the current unstacking provisions?”

The NCBFAA Customs Committee and Counsel of Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A., will continue to track the imposition of additional Section 232 tariffs on U.S. imports aluminum and steel derivatives, watch progress of the U.S. and European Union trade framework agreement announced on Aug. 21, and monitor the Canadian government’s commitment to end certain retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods by Sept. 1.

Customs and Border Protection said recent unannounced visits at Customs Bonded Facilities (CBF) have yielded numerous cases of violations. The agency reminds CBF operators of authorities that CBP Port Directors may exercise in cases of violations.

President Trump announced on Friday, Aug. 22, that his administration has initiated an investigation into furniture imports, with the possibility of imposing tariffs on these products later this year.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will hold its next Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee (COAC) quarterly meeting in Washington, D.C., from 1-5 p.m. ET on Sept. 17. The meeting will be open to the public via webinar only, the agency said.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on Aug. 21 updated its IEEPA Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to clarify the unstacking provisions. Specifically, under “IEEPA Overarching,” see the question, “What are the current unstacking provisions?”

The NCBFAA Customs Committee and Counsel of Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A., will continue to track the imposition of additional Section 232 tariffs on U.S. imports aluminum and steel derivatives, watch progress of the U.S. and European Union trade framework agreement announced on Aug. 21, and monitor the Canadian government’s commitment to end certain retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods by Sept. 1.

Customs and Border Protection said recent unannounced visits at Customs Bonded Facilities (CBF) have yielded numerous cases of violations. The agency reminds CBF operators of authorities that CBP Port Directors may exercise in cases of violations.