Due to the efforts of the NCBFAA, a new rule that substantially deregulates NVOCC service arrangements ("NSAs") and NVOCC negotiated rate arrangements ("NRAs") went into effect Wednesday, August 22, 2018. The Association would like to express its appreciation to Acting Chairman Khouri and Commissioner Dye for their efforts in promulgating this new rule.

In the August 20 edition of the Federal Register, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a correction regarding Modernized Drawback. In the proposed rulemaking, CBP unintentional stated "an exemption for drawback claims for wine which included an imprecise reference to the entirety of paragraph (b)."

The NCBFAA and the AfA have commented on the Interim Final Rule (IFR) for the Air Cargo Advanced Screening (ACAS) program. These comments are the culmination of NCBFAA and AfA's years spent in on-going discussions with the TSA, CBP and the air cargo transportation community, as well as with their members who participated in the ACAS program.

The US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has created a new product code for low risk devices promoted as general wellness products. Product code 80PWC is now available for import use only. This product code should not be used for FDA device registration purposes under any circumstances.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have announced that effective October 1st, the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) will increase by 4.886 percent to adjust for inflation. Fees affected by this increase include:

On Thursday of last week, the Senate voted unanimously to pass the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill Act. This bill is an amended version of the document that passed in the House earlier this year. The items that were removed from the original bill are propargyl butylcarbamate, esfenvalerate, collapsible insulated food and beverage bags, rotary hand cutting tools, full tang knives, electric commercial vehicles, and cabs and bodies for electric vehicles. The original bill, with its over 1700 duty suspensions or reductions on imported products not produced in the U.S., can be found here.

Butch Connor of John S. Connor, Baltimore, spoke before the House Port Caucus on Wednesday, July 18th, representing NCBFAA in describing the value of the customs broker, freight forwarder and NVO to the U.S. economy.

The NCBFAA Board of Directors would like to acknowledge the following 18 new members approved at the June 23 meeting in Washington, D.C.

Last Monday, Mary Jo Muoio (Chair of NCBFAA's Customs Committee) and Jon Kent (Counsel) met with a group assembled by John Leonard from the Office of Trade and OFO to discuss the Association's punch list of functionalities missing from core ACE. For well over a year, NCBFAA has engaged in discussion about such issues as AII, the House Airway Bill, de minimis and approximately two dozen functions that our members felt essential to the needs of the industry.

On July 6th, after the additional 25% tariffs on over $34 billion of Chinese goods went into effect, China reacted by enacting additional tariffs of 25% on over 545 products originating from the United States, also valued at $34 billion. These tariffs cover commodities such as agricultural products such as beef and dairy, automobiles and aquatic goods. Additionally, China plans to enact additional tariffs on 114 products originating from the United States, valued at $16 billion should the U.S. enact additional tariffs. These commodities include chemical products, medical equipment and energy products.

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.