Customs and Trade Law Weekly Snapshot
Here is a recap of the latest customs and international trade law news: 
NEW EXECUTIVE ORDER: Federal Agencies Directed to Remove Regulatory Barriers
In light of COVID-19, on May 19, 2020, the Trump Administration issued a new Executive Order (EO) entitled, “Regulatory Relief to Support Economic Recovery” directing all federal agencies to promote economic recovery through non-regulatory action. Importers, exporters, and other businesses under the jurisdiction of one of the 42 plus federal agencies that have pending federal enforcement actions should consider the regulatory reform mandated by the EO.
Trump Administration Tightens Cuba’s Sanctions Program
Since June 2017, we have been anxiously awaiting changes to the Cuba sanctions program since President Trump signed an executive order and emphatically stated that his administration would tighten loose regulations established under the Obama Administration.
On November 8, 2017, the U.S. Department of the Treasury stated,
- “We have strengthened our Cuba policies to channel economic activity away from the Cuban military and to encourage the government to move toward greater political and economic freedom for the Cuban people”
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets (OFAC) has implemented the Treasury-specific changes via amendments to its Cuban Assets Control Regulations (CACR), codified at 31 C.F.R. 515. Similarly, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has implement necessary changes via amendments to its Export Administration Regulations (EAR), codified at 15 C.F.R. 730-746.
Additionally, the State Department has established corresponding initiatives to implement the policy changes promulgated by OFAC and BIS that target impeding economic activities from the Cuban military, intelligence, and security services. OFAC, BIS, and the State Department have taken steps to ensure policy implementations maintain opportunities for Americans to engage in authorized travel to Cuba and support the private, small business sector in Cuba.
The policy changes are effective TODAY, November 9, 2017, pursuant to Federal Register Notice.
The OFAC has already provided a three page FACT SHEET on its website discussing the main questions and answers you are likely pondering yourself. Here is a summary of the main changes:
Financial Transactions
- The Embargo […]
Missed DTL’s seminar on AD/CVD with CBP? Here’s a re-cap.
Yesterday we at DTL had the pleasure of hosting Part 1 of 2 of our Seminar Series for Compliance Professionals. In celebration of #WorldTradeMonth the first seminar concentrated on Antidumping Duties and Countervailing Duties (AD/CVD) with expert speakers from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). While we had a packed room, we have received requests from industry members who were not able to attend asking for a re-cap. You asked so we delivered!
Here is our re-cap:
The morning kicked off with a networking breakfast where experienced and novice custom brokers, legal counsel, trade consultants, and others were able to engage in meaningful dialogue about overlapping issues they experience in their respective workplaces in dealing with the topic of AD/CVD.
The seminar promptly began at 9:00 am with introductory remarks by our own President, Jennifer Diaz. We had all attendees introduce themselves and include why this seminar was important to attend. We were glad to hear from majority of attendees that their reason for participating was to further their trade education, and CBP wanted to ensure they performed “informed compliance” with the trade community. One attendee commented with “I’m here to continue to learn as that’s what we [customer brokers] are required to do.”
Next, representatives of Miami Free Zone explained their role in international business solutions as they provides users and visitors with […]
FREE World Trade Month Seminar on AD/CVD & CBP ENFORCEMENTgyt6
Importers, here is your chance to learn all about the hot topic of AD/CVD. In celebration of World Trade Month, Diaz Trade Law is providing the trade community a valuable opportunity to speak direct with Supervisory Import Specialists with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and a legal expert to address your questions and concerns relating to CBP’s role in administering and enforcing imports subject to AD/CVD.
In Fiscal Year 2016, CBP Processed $14 billion of imported goods subject to AD/CVD, and collected $1.5 billion in cash deposits. By the end of the fiscal year, $2.8 billion in AD/CVD duties were still owed to the U.S. (dating back to 2001). From fiscal year 2015 to 2016, AD/CVD cash deposits increased over 25
percent. Learn directly from CBP on AD/CVD Compliance and Enforcement! With President Trumps new Executive Order mandating a plan by June 29 “to require importers deemed a risk to U.S. revenue to provide security for AD and CVD liability through bonds and other legal measures”- many questions arise! Now’s your time to ask them!!
You have a limited time to RSVP to this event for FREE!!! Yes, for FREE. We find this information to be invaluable so Diaz Trade Law is sponsoring this event, to bring it to you for FREE. RSVP today! Our full event agenda including the who, what, when, and where is below. Don’t miss it!