The U.S. Census Bureau released data findings from the 2014 Annual Survey of Entrepreneurs Exporting Firms Summary.

The Commerce Department and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the two agencies to work together to facilitate international e-commerce and strengthen enforcement of U.S. customs laws. The fast-changing e-commerce trade environment requires collaboration on policies and programs to help U.S. businesses compete in international markets.

CBP has announced that effective January 1, 2018, a number of CBP user fees will be adjusted for inflation in keeping with the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. Fees affected by this 2.677 percent increase include the commercial vessel arrival fees, commercial truck arrival fees, railroad car arrival fees, private vessel arrival fees, private aircraft arrival fees, commercial aircraft and vessel passenger arrival fees, dutiable mail fees, customs broker permit user fees, barges and other bulk carrier arrival fees, and merchandise processing fees. CBP described its procedures for adjusting these user fees to reflect inflation in a release.

The FMC has launched a webpage dedicated to reporting on the agency's regulatory reform initiative. Building upon recent Presidential Executive Orders, the Commission's regulatory reform initiative is a voluntary effort to evaluate the agency's existing regulations and programs, and make recommendations regarding their repeal, replacement or modification. The Commission recently sought input from the public on this reform effort through a Notice of Inquiry, and is working to move the Commission's regulatory reform initiative forward expeditiously. Karen V. Gregory, the Commission's Regulatory Reform Officer, notes that "this webpage will further the Commission's effort to keep the public informed and engaged in the regulatory reform process."

In an effort to provide sufficient guidance for two license exceptions included in the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), this final rule, published in the Wednesday November 1 Issue of the Federal Register, makes clarifications to License Exception Governments, International Organizations, International Inspections under the Chemical Weapons Convention, and the International Space Station (GOV) and adds five notes, along with making other minor clarifications, to License Exception Strategic Trade Authorization (STA).

This past week, NCBFAA President Geoff Powell and Legislative Representative Jon Kent attended Acting Commissioner McAleenan's Senate Finance confirmation hearing. Mr. Powell noted that McAleenan has "clear bi-partisan support" and believes he "did a phenomenal job answering specific questions on a wide range of issues, which demonstrated his extensive knowledge and confirms NCBFAA's endorsement of him to become the next Commissioner." Additionally, Mr. Powell attended the Southern Border Conference in Laredo, Texas, representing the NCBFAA along with our respective area Board of Director members. It was a very well attended conference that included senior executives from CBP, FDA and numerous trade partners. He was on a panel Friday with Federico Zuniga, who discussed NEI activities, and Ricardo Zaragoza, of CAAAREM, where they discussed the important work each of our respective associations are addressing on a number of issues.

The Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee (COAC) will hold its quarterly public meeting on Tuesday, November 14, 1-5 p.m. EST, in Washington, DC. The COAC will hear from the following subcommittees on the topics listed:

Citing concern with late filings for goods requiring a Notice of Arrival for Pesticides, EPA noted that the regions were going to start issuing redelivery notices and refusal notices to export. A CSMS on this topic may be forthcoming shortly.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is announcing the implementation of revised Lacey Act provisions. The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 amended the Lacey Act to provide that importers submit a declaration at the time of importation for certain plants and plant products. In 2009, APHIS initiated a blanket declaration pilot program to test the feasibility of a monthly "blanket" declaration, with subsequent reconciliation reports, for importers to declare routine or repeat shipments.

NCBFAA has spent the past few months neck deep in understanding the new lay of the land as the November 1st deadline for the TSN Change 6 rules comes ever closer to our industry. After numerous internal meetings and engagements with industry and the government, we are proud to offer our thoughts on the ways in which our members can seek training to be in compliance come November 1st. The 3 training programs that we have reviewed are Gistnet, Veroot and IAC.

The NCBFAA Customs Committee and Counsel of Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A. is tracking the outcome of U.S.-Vietnam trade deal, ongoing U.S.-Canadian trade discussions, and CBP tariff guidance updates for the association's customs broker members and their importer clients.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), effective July 1, revoked the Syria Sanctions as authorized in Executive Order (EO) 14312.

On July 16 at 2 p.m. ET, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) will hold a special “virtual office hours” session to discuss challenges and experiences of customs brokers and industry members who have participated in the CPSC e-Filing pilot.

With so much focus on trade in Washington, D.C., these days, NCBFAA anticipates that the 2025 Government Affairs Conference (GAC) in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 7-9, will sell out of our room block at the Grand Hyatt Washington well before the room rate cut-off date of Aug. 7.

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 NCBFAA Customs Committee and Counsel of Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A. is tracking the outcome of U.S.-Vietnam trade deal, ongoing U.S.-Canadian trade discussions, and CBP tariff guidance updates for the association's customs broker members and their importer clients.

On July 16 at 2 p.m. ET, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) will hold a special “virtual office hours” session to discuss challenges and experiences of customs brokers and industry members who have participated in the CPSC e-Filing pilot.

With so much focus on trade in Washington, D.C., these days, NCBFAA anticipates that the 2025 Government Affairs Conference (GAC) in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 7-9, will sell out of our room block at the Grand Hyatt Washington well before the room rate cut-off date of Aug. 7.

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

On behalf of NCBFAA's Board of Directors, Leadership and Staff, we want to take a moment to acknowledge and welcome 7 Star Logistics Solutions, Farris Customs Brokers, Infinito Global Trade Network, and Karl Gross Logistics (USA), which have recently joined our association. We're so excited to have these firms join our organization and we are happy to assist in any way we can!

The NCBFAA Customs Committee and Counsel of Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A. is tracking the outcome of U.S.-Vietnam trade deal, ongoing U.S.-Canadian trade discussions, and CBP tariff guidance updates for the association's customs broker members and their importer clients.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), effective July 1, revoked the Syria Sanctions as authorized in Executive Order (EO) 14312.

FIATA’s new Best Practice Guide on Maritime Contracting helps freight forwarders navigate this landscape by clarifying the implications of acting under different capacities when engaging with ocean carriers.

On July 16 at 2 p.m. ET, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) will hold a special “virtual office hours” session to discuss challenges and experiences of customs brokers and industry members who have participated in the CPSC e-Filing pilot.

With so much focus on trade in Washington, D.C., these days, NCBFAA anticipates that the 2025 Government Affairs Conference (GAC) in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 7-9, will sell out of our room block at the Grand Hyatt Washington well before the room rate cut-off date of Aug. 7.