U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has just announced that the location for the "21st Century Customs Framework" public meeting, scheduled for Friday, March 1, has been changed. The public meeting will now be held at the U.S. Department of Commerce's Herbert Hoover Auditorium in Washington, D.C.

On January 28, after the government shutdown ended, the NCBFAA filed comments in response to a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that the Federal Maritime Commission had initiated in December. The NPRM was relatively noncontroversial and was intended by the agency primarily streamline and clarify certain of the various regulations affecting the renewal process for OTI licenses.

Last Friday, President Trump signed a short-term spending bill that will reopen the Federal Government through at least February 15. If a longer deal has not been worked out by February 15, President Trump said that "the government will either shut down again," or "I will use my powers to build a wall."

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced to the NCBFAA last Thursday that the enforcement of the changes to the in-bond regulations and the enforcement of ISF-5 fillings were being postponed due to the ongoing government shutdown. A CSMS message was released the following day, explaining the postponement in more detail.

Last week, the Americans for Free Trade Coalition, of which the NCBFAA is a member, welcomed the newly-elected and returning members of the 116th Congress with a letter urging them to consider the impact the trade war was having on their districts and states and reminding them of the power they have in trade policy matters.

Due to the ongoing Government shutdown, the NCBFAA will have to postpone our upcoming "The New Normal at the FMC" Summit. The event, which was scheduled to feature the Federal Maritime Commission's (FMC) Acting Chairman Michael Khouri and Commissioner Rebecca Dye, will be rescheduled after the reopening of the Federal Government. If you have registered for the event, we will be issuing you a full refund.

With a Federal government shutdown officially underway, the NCBFAA has reached out to representatives of Partner Government Agencies (PGA) for information regarding the arrangements they have in place for the processing of Import and Export cargo. Please see below for agency guidance and procedure.

The NCBFAA has relayed the issues our members are experiencing to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in regard to their practice of voiding inactive importer numbers. CBP has acknowledged that their scope was a bit broad and have put a temporary halt to the process. They are currently reevaluating the process and may expand the period. CBP expects to relaunch the program at the beginning of the year with, perhaps, a broader period of 18-24 months. The NCBFAA Customs Committee has received many examples of the challenges experienced during the initial program. We would like to send examples of erroneous voiding, whether the program has too narrow a period, and suggestions to CBP for consideration, as they develop a revised program. If you have any examples or suggestions, please send them to Megan Montgomery and we will incorporate them into a submission to CBP.

In a tour de force of Congressional testifying, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Kevin McAleenan spoke at length and in great detail about border issues before the Senate Judiciary Committee last Tuesday.

Importers are required to file a certificate advising whether they have entered into an agreement or otherwise has received reimbursement of AD duties. If an importer fails to provide a statement of reimbursement prior to liquidation, CBP will presume reimbursement and double the duties. Blanket certificates for either a 12-month period or the length of the administrative review period are acceptable. An officer of the importer must sign the certificate; a customs broker cannot sign the certificate. The certificate should be filed prior to liquidation although certificates may be presented with a CBP protest to rebut the reimbursement presumption and cancel the doubling of the duties for the failure to submit the certificate.

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.