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

Customs and Border Protection (CBP)  

  • CBP initiates interoperability standards test to improve supply chain transparency 
    • The test seeks to establish global standards to foster transparency and a standard manner of communication between the private sector and government agencies while allowing both to maintain the ability to choose from various technologies. 
  • CBP announced publication of its Quick Reference Card (QRC) describing the best practices associated when reporting allegations of Enforce and Protect Act (EAPA) violations to CBP regarding importer AD/CVD evasion. The QRC is available here. 
  • CBP has announced that it will hold its 2024 Trade Facilitation and Cargo Security Summit at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown in Philadelphia on March 26-28, 2024. 
  • CBP and USDA will host a webinar to provide information about risks and regulations associated wood packaging material/ISPM 15.  The live webinar will take place virtually on Monday October 25, 2023 from 2:00-3:00pm EDT. Register here. 
  • CBP notified CTPAT partners that all primary POCs for CTPAT and TC Portal accounts MUST ensure user information and email addresses are correct.  
    • The agency reported large numbers of email bounce backs when trying to communicate with partners. CBP advises that all users that are no longer with your company or should no longer have access to your CTPAT or TC Portals should be removed immediately.  

Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS)  

  • BIS imposes penalty against Pratt & Whitney Component Solutions to resolve 13 alleged violations of the anti boycott violations. 
    • Between May 2019 and March 2020, PWCS received several requests from Qatar Airways to refrain from importing Israeli-origin goods into Qatar. PWCS failed to report to BIS receipt of these requests. 
    • BIS imposed a civil penalty of $48,750.

U.S. Department of Commerce 

  • U.S. Department of Commerce publishes text of landmark Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) Supply Chain Agreement. 
    • The proposed agreement is designed to enable IPEF partners to work together collaboratively to make supply chains more resilient, efficient, transparent, diversified, secure, and inclusive. 
  • Certain metal lockers from the People’s Republic of China: Final results of antidumping duty changed circumstances reviews. 
  • Certain crystalline silicon photovoltaic products from the People’s Republic of China: Final results of countervailing duty administrative review.  

United States Trade Representative (USTR)  

  • United States announces resolution of the outstanding WTO poultry dispute with India 
    • As part of the agreement, India also agreed to reduce tariffs on certain U.S. products, including frozen turkey, frozen duck, fresh blueberries and cranberries, frozen blueberries and cranberries, dried blueberries and cranberries, and processed blueberries and cranberries. 
  • USTR, the Department of Commerce, and Small Business Administration convene the 12th United States-European Union small- and medium-sized enterprise workshop in Birmingham, Alabama. 

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 

  • FDA issues warning letters to firms marketing unapproved eye products.  

U.S. Congress 

  • The Customs Business Fairness Act, a change to bankruptcy law that protects customs brokers, was included in the Commerce, Justice and Science appropriations package in the House.

Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) 

  • The FMC will hold its Commission meeting on Sept. 21 at 1:00 PM. Matters to be considered including a staff briefing on the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 and a staff briefing on Consumer Affairs and Dispute Resolution Services.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 

  • The FDA announced the over-the-counter (OTC) Monograph Order Request (OMOR) fee rates for OTC monograph drugs for fiscal year 2024.  

U.S. Census Bureau  

  • The Census Bureau’s Trade Regulations Branch published a blog post to address questions they regularly receive regarding who to report as the Ultimate Consignee (15 CFR 30.1(c)) on the Electronic Export Information (EEI) in the Automated Export system (AES). 

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

  • OFAC designates Hizballah operatives and financial facilitators in South America and Lebanon. 
  • Assistant Secretary for Investment Security Paul Rosen testifies before the U.S. House Committee on Financial Services.

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