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

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) 

  • CBP published a Federal Register notice stating that individual licensed customs brokers may begin completing qualified continuing broker education courses on Jan. 1, 2025 – the compliance date – and, accordingly, 20 credits as the prorated number of required credit hours for the triennial period starting Feb. 1, 2024, and ending Jan. 31, 2027. 
  • CBP issued an Enforce and Protect Act determination, finding Mak Chemicals evaded antidumping duties by transshipping xanthan gum from China through Indonesia. 
  • CBP issued guidance for the upcoming requirement to report the country of melt and pour for certain imported steel articles. 
  • CBP officers and agriculture specialists assigned to the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility seized 14,745 pounds of prohibited fresh hog plum and fresh passion fruit. 
  • The National Marine Fisheries Service updated the HTS codes subject to Certification of Admissibility requirements from Mexico. 

Department of Homeland Security

  • DHS announced the addition of three PRC-based textile companies to the UFLPA Entity List.

Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) 

  • BIS added 40 foreign entities, as well as 4 addresses, to the Entity List in connection with their support for Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine and tightening restrictions on 49 foreign entities that were already on the Entity List to address their procurement of high-priority U.S.-branded microelectronics and other items on behalf of Russia. 
  • Comments on BIS’s proposed vehicle supply chain closed this week. Over 100 comments were filed, with many groups asking BIS for more time to move supply chains out of China. 

United States International Trade Commission (USITC) 

  • The U.S. International Trade Commission found no injury in Aluminum Extrusions from China, Colombia, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam. The decision could still be appealed, but for now the U.S. Department of Commerce will not issue antidumping and countervailing duty orders related to this case.  If the Department follows normal procedure, liquidation instructions will be issued shortly ordering liquidation of all entries where such duties were deposited and refunds should be issued.  Older antidumping/countervailing duty cases that did result in antidumping and countervailing duty orders, Aluminum Extrusions from the People’s Republic of China, A-570-967, C-570-968, remain in effect.  

Court of International Trade 

  • The Court held that the Transportation Department doesn’t have authority to determine whether to admit entries of goods based on whether they comport with federal safety standards. 

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 

  • Three individuals were sentenced for their role in the international importation and distribution of unapproved drugs.  

Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) 

  • The FMC released their September 2024 activity report. Highlights: 
    • Guidance on port work stoppage 
    • Gemini Cooperation Agreement took effect 
    • 63 OTI licensing applications 

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) 

  • USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is allowing, effective Oct. 29, fresh soursop fruit from Mexico. 

Department of Commerce 

  • Commerce announced the initiation of antidumping duty investigations and countervailing duty investigations of thermoformed molded fiber products from China and Vietnam. 
  • A domestic producer recently filed petitions with the Commerce Department and the International Trade Commission requesting new antidumping and countervailing duties on hard empty capsules from Brazil, China, India and Vietnam. 

U.S. Census Bureau  

  • Census published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking making several changes to Foreign Trade Regulations filing requirements. 

 Department of Justice (DoJ) 

  • A federal jury convicted a foreign national of conspiring to export U.S.-made drill rigs to Iran in violation of US sanctions laws.  
  • Florida defense contractor sentenced to 15 months in prison for unlawful export of technical data. 

Congress 

  • Four democratic Senators wrote a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen asking the Treasury Department to end the de minimis exemption. 

United Nations 

  • The U.N. General Assembly overwhelmingly approved a non-binding resolution calling for United States to end its sanctions regime on Cuba. The resolution was approved by 187 countries and opposed only by the United States and Israel, with Moldava abstaining. 

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