Two recent Headquarters' rulings have addressed the impact of China Section 301 duties on tool kits classifiable under subheading 8206.00.00, HTSUS. In the rulings, HQ H304235 (July 30, 2019) and HQ H301769 (April 10, 2019), Customs determined that such tool kits are subject to a double hit of China Section 301 duties.

Long-time lobbyist for the NCBFAA, Jon Kent has announced that he will retire before the end of the year. Jon has served the NCBFAA and our members for the better part of 40 years, and his presence, guidance and expertise will be greatly missed.

On Friday of last week, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), in response to China's announcement of additional tariffs on $75 billion worth of American Goods, said that the United States would increase existing tariffs on Chinese goods by 5%. According to the release, For the 25% tariffs on approximately $250 billion worth of Chinese imports, USTR will begin the process of increasing the tariff rate to 30%, effective October 1 following a notice and comment period. For the 10% tariffs on approximately $300 billion worth of Chinese imports that the President announced earlier this month, the tariffs will now be 15%, effective on the already scheduled dates for tariff increases on these imports.

In the August 14 edition of the Federal Register, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a proposed rule amending Section 116 of the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015 (TFTEA) that would establish identity collection criteria and create a required verification process of the importer and nonresident importer client. CBP is requiring all brokers obtain, at a minimum, the following information from their clients:

Announced via CSMS on August 7, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has released instructions for how to submit entries that contain products granted exclusions from Section 302 duties. Instructions for submission are as follows:

NCBFAA submitted comments last week in response to a July 10 Federal Register notice asking for comments on ways to combat counterfeit and pirated goods trafficking, particularly in e-commerce. The notice is part of an interagency review pursuant to the President's April 3, 2019, Memorandum on Combating Trafficking in Counterfeit and Pirated Goods.

On July 22, the NCBFAA filed comments on the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) interim final rule that makes changes to the agency's Reporting, Procedures and Penalties Regulations.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Wayne Wagner's memory to Saint John's Health Center Foundation, 2121 Santa Monica Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA 90404. Please write on your check that this gift supports JWCI - Research Oncology Urology Fund - in honor of Wayne Wagner, Jr., and make checks payable to Saint John's Health Center Foundation. You can also make a gift over the phone by calling Meghan Chereck at (310) 829-8394, or online at https://www.saintjohnscancer.org/make-a-donation/contact-us-donation-form/.

It is with great regret that we inform you that Wayne Wagner unexpectedly passed away on Monday, July 8th. Wayne started his career at Tower Group 35 years ago, which became FedEx Trade Networks in 2001. Wayne most recently served as the Senior Manager of Brokerage Services but had many roles in the company including General Manager of the Southwest Region. Wayne was a licensed Customs Broker, a Certified Customs Specialist and held a Bachelor of Arts degree from Whittier College in California.

The rumors that you may have heard concerning a change in the process for registering an NVOCC's bill of lading in the PRC appear to be accurate. The NCBFAA has been advised that the Ministry of Transportation for the PRC issued regulations that formally cancel all existing registrations for NVOCC bills of lading and has instituted in its place a very simple process by which each NVOCC's agent in the PRC can quickly submit the necessary registration data through an online registration process.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) on Friday, Oct. 10, announced modifications to its Section 301 tariffs on foreign ships calling U.S. ports, effective Oct. 14, as well as the addition of tariffs for container-handling equipment imports.

President Trump in a Truth Social post on Friday, Oct. 10, said that his administration will impose 100% tariffs on China products, “over and above any Tariff that they are currently paying,” by Nov. 1 or sooner, citing an “extraordinary aggressive position” taken by China against the U.S. with new tariffs and increased export controls on rare earth metals.

The NCBFAA Customs Committee and Counsel of Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A., are closing monitoring the imposition of Section 232 tariffs on timber, lumber, and derivative products imported into the U.S., starting for entries made on or after Oct. 14, and proposed Section 232 tariffs for heavy-duty truck imports by Nov. 1. The Committee will provide related Customs and Border Protection (CBP) guidance to our customs broker members as soon as it’s received.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has stepped up outreach to the trade to increase awareness of DEA import and export requirements. DEA officials recently visited several local customs broker associations to spread the word about importer and exporter requirements under the Controlled Substances Act with particular emphasis on chemicals that can be used to manufacture fentanyl.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) during an Oct. 1 call with the trade that no refunds of any type, including drawback, ACH, etc., are part of the excepted functions currently allowed by the agency during the government shutdown since they’re tied to appropriations.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) on Friday, Oct. 10, announced modifications to its Section 301 tariffs on foreign ships calling U.S. ports, effective Oct. 14, as well as the addition of tariffs for container-handling equipment imports.

President Trump in a Truth Social post on Friday, Oct. 10, said that his administration will impose 100% tariffs on China products, “over and above any Tariff that they are currently paying,” by Nov. 1 or sooner, citing an “extraordinary aggressive position” taken by China against the U.S. with new tariffs and increased export controls on rare earth metals.

The NCBFAA Customs Committee and Counsel of Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A., are closing monitoring the imposition of Section 232 tariffs on timber, lumber, and derivative products imported into the U.S., starting for entries made on or after Oct. 14, and proposed Section 232 tariffs for heavy-duty truck imports by Nov. 1. The Committee will provide related Customs and Border Protection (CBP) guidance to our customs broker members as soon as it’s received.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has stepped up outreach to the trade to increase awareness of DEA import and export requirements. DEA officials recently visited several local customs broker associations to spread the word about importer and exporter requirements under the Controlled Substances Act with particular emphasis on chemicals that can be used to manufacture fentanyl.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) during an Oct. 1 call with the trade that no refunds of any type, including drawback, ACH, etc., are part of the excepted functions currently allowed by the agency during the government shutdown since they’re tied to appropriations.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) on Friday, Oct. 10, announced modifications to its Section 301 tariffs on foreign ships calling U.S. ports, effective Oct. 14, as well as the addition of tariffs for container-handling equipment imports.

President Trump in a Truth Social post on Friday, Oct. 10, said that his administration will impose 100% tariffs on China products, “over and above any Tariff that they are currently paying,” by Nov. 1 or sooner, citing an “extraordinary aggressive position” taken by China against the U.S. with new tariffs and increased export controls on rare earth metals.

The NCBFAA Customs Committee and Counsel of Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A., are closing monitoring the imposition of Section 232 tariffs on timber, lumber, and derivative products imported into the U.S., starting for entries made on or after Oct. 14, and proposed Section 232 tariffs for heavy-duty truck imports by Nov. 1. The Committee will provide related Customs and Border Protection (CBP) guidance to our customs broker members as soon as it’s received.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has stepped up outreach to the trade to increase awareness of DEA import and export requirements. DEA officials recently visited several local customs broker associations to spread the word about importer and exporter requirements under the Controlled Substances Act with particular emphasis on chemicals that can be used to manufacture fentanyl.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) during an Oct. 1 call with the trade that no refunds of any type, including drawback, ACH, etc., are part of the excepted functions currently allowed by the agency during the government shutdown since they’re tied to appropriations.