Alba Wheels Up International acquired customs broker John A. Steer, Alba said in a news release Jan. 9. The acquisition will “broaden the companies’ geographic reach” and fortify “Alba’s position as a dominant force in the customs brokerage, freight forwarding, and related industries with significant regulatory and logistics expertise across a handful of end markets,” the release said. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Sayari, a risk compliance analysis firm, announced that the Bureau of International Labor Affairs has signed a contract to use Sayari Graph to uncover forced labor ties in supply chains.
The Southern Shrimp Alliance cheered the House Select Committee on China's recommendation that seafood from China should be subject to a presumption that it was caught or processed with forced labor.
Business groups are asking the leaders of the appropriations committees in Congress to support money at the border in a funding request that also includes funding for the war in Gaza and Ukraine. In a letter last week, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America, the National Council of Textile Organizations and the Airforwarders Association said CBP says it needs at least 4,000 more officers. The money in the request would cover 1,000 CBP officers.
China's stranglehold on minerals used in electric vehicle battery-making, and their head start on making quality, affordable EVs makes U.S. and European firms anxious, panelists said at a Georgetown Business School webinar on the future of auto value chains.
Kuehne+Nagel will acquire the Canada-based customs broker Farrow, the Swiss logistics company said in a news release. “The acquisition of Farrow will be immediately earnings-accretive and will expand the company’s customs capabilities in a complementary way, especially at the Canadian and Mexican borders of the USA,” Kuehne+Nagel said. The deal's completion is expected in the first quarter of 2024, and is subject to “approval from regulatory authorities and customary closing conditions,” the release said. “Upon close, Farrow will become a fully owned subsidiary of Kuehne+Nagel.” Terms were not disclosed.
Six U.S. oil country tubular goods manufacturers -- Tenaris U.S., Vallourec Star, Borusan Pipe US, PTC Liberty Tubulars, Welded Tube US, and Axis Pipe and Tube -- have formed a new trade association. The U.S. OCTG Manufacturers Association elected Tenaris U.S. President Luca Zanotti chairman, and appointed Roger Schagrin, partner at Schagrin Associates, its general counsel, a Nov. 28 news release said.
The National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America is lobbying for language in the Federal Aviation Administration re-authorization bill that would direct the Government Accountability Office to review investments in air cargo infrastructure and workforce development.
Aluminum trade groups are in disagreement on a trade remedy case on aluminum extrusions, with the Aluminum Association and its Mexican and Canadian counterparts telling U.S., Canadian and Mexican government officials that "the filing of a 15-country trade case, which includes Mexico, by a subsection of U.S. aluminum extrusion producers threatens to overshadow the longstanding coordination and partnership between the aluminum industries in the three countries."
Customs and trade lawyer Adrienne Braumiller, founder of the Braumiller Law Group in Texas, said she expects forced labor detentions to increase as a result of the hiring of Laura Murphy to advise Robert Silvers, the DHS's undersecretary for strategy, policy and plans.