Here is a recap of the latest customs and international trade news:       

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) 

  • CBP released the September 2024 monthly update. Highlights: 
    • Identified $7.6B in duties to be collected 
    • Stopped 425 shipments for further examination based on the suspected use of forced labor 
    • Seized 1,873 shipments that contained counterfeit goods 
  • CBP released an updated version of the Air Cargo Advance Screening – Implementation Guide (ACAS-IG) Version 2.3.3. 
  • CBP and CPSC seized $61,000 in infant products that were determined to be unsafe for entry due to high lead paint content and choking hazards.  
  • On October 26, 2024, CBP plans to retire the filer and shipper/consignee legacy ACE portal account views. 

Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) 

  • BIS added 26 entities to the Entity List for activities contrary to U.S. national security and foreign policy.  
  • BIS announced the removal of Canada-based Sandvine Incorporated from the Entity List in light of significant corporate reforms to protect human rights.  
  • BIS  announced a series of rules to modernize space-related export controls.  

Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) 

  • OFAC announced a $860,000 settlement with a Vietnam-based alcoholic beverage company, to settle its subsidiaries’ potential civil liability for 43 apparent violations of the North Korea Sanctions Regulations. 
  • OFAC issued an updated Maritime Oil Industry Advisory for both government and private sector actors. 

United States International Trade Commission (USITC) 

  • Commerce will issue AD/CVD orders on imports of aluminum lithographic printing plates from China after the USITC determined that a U.S. industry is materially injured by reason of these imports and that the goods are sold at less than fair value and subsidized by the government of China. 
  • USITC votes to continue the investigation of imports of corrosion-resistant steel products from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Netherlands, South Africa, Taiwan, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam.  
  • USITC is beginning a Section 337 investigation on allegations that imports of rechargeable batteries are infringing patents held by North Carolina company LithiumHub. 

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 

  • The FDA and CBP announced the administrative seizure of approximately three million units of unauthorized e-cigarette products, with an estimated retail value of $76 million. 
  • FDA Assistant Commissioner for Import Operations said that the agency is ramping up scrutiny on food importers that aren’t fully complying with Foreign Supplier Verification Program requirements. 

Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) 

  • The FMC held its October 2024 open meeting focused on enforcement, charge complaints, and IT modernization. The Enforcement Division Director also told the Commission that they need more employees and funding to investigate and penalize violators of shipping laws, especially for costly cases that move to U.S. courts. 

U.S. Census Bureau  

  • The Census Bureau updated one port of unlading code name and added multiple ports of unlading codes to the Automated Export System. 

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) 

  • The UDSA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) National Organic Program is removing the AM7 flag from 1,700 tariff subheadings. 

Department of Justice (DoJ) 

  • The owner and operator of the cargo ship that struck Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge in March have agreed to pay $102 million to the federal government. 
  • A Chinese national pleaded guilty in federal court to illegally exporting U.S. technology to a prohibited end user in China, in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). 

Congress 

  • Representative Gary Palmer of Alabama introduced legislation that would block a new Treasury Department rule that would make investment advisers subject to anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing requirements. 

International 

  • Canada tariffs of 100% on Chinese-made electric vehicles and 25% on Chinese steel and aluminum went into effect on October 22, 2024. 
  • The Canada Border Services agency announced that effective October 21, 2024, the CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management (CARM) system will become the official system that importers and other trade chain partners will use to account for imported goods and pay for duties, including taxes on the goods. 

Want more customs and international trade news? Sign up for our weekly snapshot!

Print Friendly, PDF & EmailPrint