CBP recently issued two rulings on duty-free classification under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule heading 9817, including one that unsuccessfully lobbied for a reconsideration of a previous ruling.
RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. -- As CBP ramps up trade enforcement, companies must not only strive to have their supporting documents in order, they also must scrutinize CBP's enforcement actions to ensure the agency is interpreting matters correctly, trade attorneys said at last week's Western Cargo Conference (WESCCON).
Although cargo volumes at the Port of Los Angeles have remained relatively strong compared with that at smaller U.S. ports, it doesn’t mean that the port has avoided feeling any impact of the U.S. trade policies, the executive director for the port said at a monthly media briefing earlier this week.
During the government shutdown or "funding hiatus," CBP cannot offer refunds or any payments that involve receiving a check from the Treasury Department, including drawback claim payments, protests and post-summary corrections, a CBP official said during an Oct. 6 call to discuss shutdown-related issues.
The vessel operator is responsible for determining whether the vessel is subject to new fees on Chinese-built and -operated vessels calling at U.S. ports, CBP said in an Oct. 3 cargo systems message.
Given the White House's focus on trade enforcement, Customs rulings have become a way for importers to ensure they are following trade regulations appropriately.
The FDA issued a final rule Sept. 25 that will set a 10-day deadline for submissions of prior notices for food shipments refused because of no prior notice or an inaccurate one, and a 30-day deadline for submissions of food facility registrations (FFR) for shipments held because a facility is unregistered. The changes take effect Oct. 27.
Citing forced labor indicators, CBP has issued a withhold release order blocking imports of bicycles, bicycle parts and accessories from Taiwanese manufacturer Giant Manufacturing.
As the trade braces for a possible government shutdown amid the budget impasse in Congress, federal agencies are dusting off their contingency plans while the trade association representing customs brokers continues to offer suggestions about which activities are deemed essential for trade compliance.
The end of the de minimis exemption could favor larger importers that are able to handle the additional data requirements while maintaining fast deliveries to consumers, according to Vince Iacopella, president of trade and government relations for Alba Wheels Up.