Canadian logistics company Milgram finished its purchase of M.O.T. Intermodal Shipping, a Canadian freight forwarder that also has offices in the U.S., said Milgram (here). The M.O.T.'s American operations include a customs brokerage and freight forwarding from two offices, one in New York and one in Texas, said Milgram. The purchase marks a strategic expansion with a number of benefits, said Milgram's press release. "It gives us added strength in the European market; it gives us a physical presence in the USA; it compliments our US customs brokerage service by adding a license in the USA; it gives us exposure to important new clients; it significantly increases our standing in the export market; and it strengthens our management team as well," the company said. The price was not disclosed.

KPMG acquired the Global Trade Management Practice of EntryPoint Consulting, which specializes in technology integration consulting, for an undisclosed amount, said KPMG on Nov. 3 (here). The EntryPoint practice will join KPMG's Trade and Customs Practice and enable "KPMG to provide both regulatory and technology consulting under one umbrella," said KPMG. The new practice "will strengthen KPMG's proficiency in assisting multinationals enhance their investment in global trade management systems," it said. "This includes the ability to manage global import and export control risks and realize cost savings and efficiencies throughout the supply chain."

Livingston International faces an 85 million Canadian dollar ($75.5 million) class action lawsuit in Canada for its alleged failure to pay its brokerage employees for overtime work. According to a complaint filed Oct. 1 at the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, the customs brokerage and freight forwarder discouraged its employees from seeking overtime compensation. Livingston also instituted policies to discourage them from making overtime claims, such as requiring advance approval for overtime even though the nature of the brokerage industry often requires its employees to work extra hours on short notice, says the complaint.

Trade data company Datamyne bought Manifest Journals, a U.S. customs data compiler, for an undisclosed price, Datamyne said in a press release.

Livingston International announced it has acquired New York-based FPA Customs Brokers, in a press release dated Aug. 12. The acquisition expands Livingston’s footprint in New York and Los Angeles, and “bolsters Livingston’s air/sea customs brokerage operations,” it said.

The International Wood Products Association (IWPA) is working with Myanmar to encourage the development of independent wood verification and forest management programs, the association said in a press release. “Currently, logging legality verification programs are in their infancy in Burma and our plan is that by launching direct trade with the country we can provide critical market support for the establishment of such programs,“ said its Executive Director Cindy Squires. A license recently issued by Treasury Department allows IWPA members to trade with the Myanmar Timber Enterprise (MTE), the state-owned enterprise responsible for the timber trade in the country, the association said. "IWPA pursued and received a license for trade with MTE, which is on the Treasury Department’s List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons," it said. " In light of the one-year license granted to IWPA, only IWPA Members are eligible for this direct trade program."

The U.S. could help restart the recently stalled growth in trade in technology goods through the completion of Trans-Pacific Partnership and Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, said TechAmerica in a new report (here). "These new agreements could expand U.S. free trade markets to 53 countries, creating significant opportunities for U.S. technology companies," TechAmerica said in a press release. Tech goods exports totaled $205 billion in 2013 and imports accounted for $351 billion, the report said. Many of the tech imports are part of a global supply chain, where U.S. multinational companies create and design the products in the U.S. while producing the final product overseas, the report said. Often, such imports represent "an intra-company transfer as U.S. firms brings their products into the United States for sale from their overseas production facilities," the study found. While both exports and imports have recovered since the recession, "the past two years have seen a slowdown in the growth rate as key overseas markets have experienced economic malaise and the economic recovery in the United States has been slow," said TechAmerica. NAFTA partners Mexico and Canada were by far the largest destination for U.S. tech exports, accounting for $39 billion and $28 billion worth, respectively, the association said.

The National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America warned of possible efforts to steal members' login credentials in a July 10 email. "Recently, an individual registered a site that 'spoofed' the NCBFAA site," said NCBFAA. As a result, using a search engine to find NCBFAA's site would turn up the fake address, ncbfab.com, it said. Because of the similarity to "the actual NCBFAA URL, ncbfaa.org, users may have been fooled into opening it and attempting to log onto the imitation site. The offending website has been suspended and clicking on the phony URL now returns the message 'Network Access Message: The website cannot be found.'" NCBFAA suggested that members change their passwords for the site.

The Footwear Distributors & Retailers of America announced on July 9 a new guide on acceptable practices at footwear factories. The “Footwear Production Code of Conduct” will help “clearly communicate and uphold the social norms and values commonly held by FDRA members,” said FDRA in its release (here). The code of conduct includes sections on working conditions, hours, wages and benefits, as well as business integrity, compliance with the law, and subcontracting.

Agathon Associates is adding customs brokerage to the services it offers its clients, after principal David Trumbull got his customs broker license, it said in a blog post on June 18. The Boston-based company consults on international trade with a focus on textiles.