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

 Customs and Border Protection (CBP)     

  • CBP Releases July 2023 Monthly Update. In July 2023, CBP: 
    • Processed more than 3 million entry summaries valued at more than $262 billion.  
    • Identified nearly $7 billion of duties to be collected by the U.S. government. 
    • Stopped 388 shipments valued at more than $107 million for further examination based on the suspected use of forced labor. 
    • Seized 1,698 shipments that contained counterfeit goods valued at more than $165 million. 
  • Fake Apple watches, wireless headphones worth nearly $400K seized by CBP at ONT and LA/LB Seaport. 
  • Cincinnati CBP seizes 100 shipments containing counterfeit MLB, MLS, NFL merchandise. 
  • CBP, FWS seize seahorses, snakes, snake oil, and prohibited pork products at Dulles Airport.  
  • Quota bulletin: Cotton provided for in Chapter 52, Additional U.S. Note 5, Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
  • EAPA investigations & updates 
    • EAPA Case 7509: Vanguard National Trailer Corp. (Notice of Determination as to Evasion). 
    • EAPA Case 7734: Fortress Iron, LP (Notice of Determination as to Evasion). 
    • EAPA Case 7782: YVC USA Inc. (Notice of Determination as to Evasion). 
    • EAPA Case 7745: Thermal Paper (Notice of Determination as to Evasion). 

White House 

  • The White House responded to a proposal floated by former President Donald Trump that would impose a 10% tariff on goods imported to the U.S. from all countries. The White House said the proposal would amount to a “sweeping tariff tax on the middle class,” cause inflation and stifling economic growth.

Congress  

  • U.S. Representative Mike Gallaher introduced a bill to amend the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 to impose limitations on the authority of the President to adjust imports that are determined to threaten to impair national security. 
  • U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson introduced a bill to require the United States Trade Representative, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, to determine a means of reinstating mandatory country of origin labeling for beef that is in compliance with all applicable rules of the World Trade Organization.   

Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) 

  • BIS to remove 33 parties from the Unverified List after successful completion of end-use checks. 

Department of Commerce   

  • International Trade Administration (ITA), announced one upcoming trade mission that will be recruited, organized, and implemented by ITA. 
    • The mission is: Clean EDGE (Enhancing Development and Growth through Clean Energy) and Environmental Technologies Business Development Mission to India—March 4–11, 2024. 
  • Commerce issues final determination of circumvention inquiries of solar cells and modules from China. 
  • Mattresses from Indonesia: Initiation of countervailing duty investigation. 
  • Certain small diameter seamless carbon and alloy standard, line and pressure pipe from Germany: Continuation of antidumping duty order. 

United States Trade Representative (USTR) 

  • United States requests first ever USMCA rapid response labor mechanism panel at Grupo Mexico Mine. 

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

  • The FDA announced the signing of a first-of-its kind Regulatory Partnership Arrangement with Ecuador’s seafood regulatory authority to enhance the safety of shrimp imported to the United States. 
  • The FDA issued a proposedExternal Link Disclaimer rule to revise the standard of identity and standard of fill of container for canned tuna. The proposed rule responds, in part, to a citizen petitionExternal Link Disclaimer submitted by Bumble Bee Foods, LLC, StarKist Co., and Tri Union Seafoods, LLC (dba Chicken of the Sea International).
  • The FDA issued warning letters to 15 online retailers for selling and/or distributing unauthorized e-cigarette products packaged to look like youth-appealing characters, school supplies, toys, and drinks. Since the appearance of these illegal products can be deceiving, the agency is also seeking to raise awareness among parents, teachers, and other adults headed into the new school year
  • The FDA published a new Voluntary Qualified Importer Program (VQIP) resource to help importers understand the eligibility criteria and answer questions they may have before submitting an application.

Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) 

  • The Commission published an update of its official case law reporter – This publication provides a compendium of Initial and Final Decisions of the Commission and selected other orders that may be significant or establish legal precedent. 
  • FMC Commissioner Carl Bentzel is soliciting industry comment on key processes identified in the agency’s data initiative that aims to fix gaps in the marine supply chain, including harmonizing information sharing, refining industry fees and charges, and developing data standards for container availability, earliest return dates (ERDs) and other metrics involved in moving cargo. 

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)      

  • Sanctions list updates: 
    • Burma-related designations; Cyber-related designation; North Korea designation; Iraq-related designation removal; Publication of Burma-related determination and associated frequently asked questions 
    • Magnitsky-related designations; Syria-related designations; Non-proliferation designations updates 

Industry 

  • Judge rules content generated solely by AI is ineligible for copyright – In their ruling, the court held that an AI-generated “work created absent any human involvement” is ineligible for copyright protection. 
  • Altana’s Amy Morgan joined Brian Glick on the Chin.io Supply Chain Connections podcast to discuss trade compliance in the 21st century. The discussion digs into how AI elevates trade compliance, the convergence of the supply chain and trade compliance, and Altana’s work with CBP. Listen here.

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

Print Friendly, PDF & EmailPrint