In order to better serve our members during ACE outages, the NCBFAA has added "Port Downtime Procedures" to its website. Found under the "Publications and Resources" tab, the ACE Downtime Procedures page has lists of specific ports and their guidelines to help facilitate trade efficiently during computer system downtimes.

On November 14, President Trump announced he was appointing Daniel Maffei and Louis Sola as Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) Commissioners.

On November 14, President Trump announced he was appointing Daniel Maffei and Louis Sola as Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) Commissioners.

Announced via CSMS #18-000663, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has released submission instruction guidance on the submission of imports excluded from duties on steel or aluminum products.

On October 30, President Trump issued Presidential Proclamation 9813, which implemented changes to the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) by removing the eligibility of certain goods for preferential duty treatment and makes changes to Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) classifications. This Proclamation went in to effect on November 1.

In a recent CSMS message (#49876589), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that importers and customs brokers of FDA-regulated products utilize FDA’s Import Trade Auxiliary Communications System (ITACS) for current entry status and to receive FDA Notices electronically. The agency noted an ITACS account is not required to import FDA-regulated products. However, review of documents submitted via ITACS is prioritized over review of documents submitted to FDA via other methods.

Announced via CSMS #18-000631, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has released the latest 5106 CBP and Trade Automated Interface Requirements (CATAIR) draft entitled "ACE Draft CATAIR: Importer/Consignee Create/Update." According to the CSMS, the new "5106 CATAIR will be available for testing in the CERTIFICATION environment starting in December 2018."

In a letter to former NCBFAA President Geoff Powell, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it has now completed its procedure for revamping the Filer Review process. According to FDA, the new process is now in effect nationally and is the method that will be used for conducting all filer evaluations. Here is a copy of the procedure along with a flow chart of the process and a chart giving examples of how FDA will determine the severity of data transmission errors during a review.

Starting in 2010, a majority of the FMC Commissioners reinterpreted what is commonly referred to as Section 10(d)(1) of the Shipping Act, which is now codified at 46 U.S.C. §41102(c). This new interpretation raised significant potential issues for NVOCCs and ocean forwarders, as it made it significantly easier for shippers to sue intermediaries at the FMC in any situation where there was a commercial dispute. And so, for example, in cases even where shippers had not paid freight charges, they were nonetheless able to obtain judgments against NVOCCs and forwarders when faced with significant demurrage and detention claims that arose due to those unpaid charges. In each of these series of cases, now FMC Chairman Michael Khouri was in the minority and wrote extensive and repeated dissents explaining why this change of interpretation of Section 10(d)(1) was inappropriate.

On October 3, the Senate overwhelmingly passed legislation reauthorizing federal aviation programs through fiscal year 2023. The bill includes a provision establishing an air cargo security division within the TSA that will carry out all policy and engagement with stakeholders.

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.