The Biden administration recommends that metal importers avoid sourcing from or brokering through Myanmar-military owned or affiliated companies, "even if their supply chains appear to be completely outside" the country, so that their sourcing doesn't violate sanctions.
Logistics provider Your Special Delivery Services Specialty Logistics (YSDS) doesn't meet the criteria to act as the importer of record on a shipment, CBP said in a recent ruling. While the company would have a lien on shipments that it could exercise in the event of nonpayment, that doesn't qualify as enough of a financial interest in the shipment to give it the right to make entry, the agency said.
The National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America said the FDA needs to address a few remaining issues in its recently issued guidance document on upcoming cosmetics registration and product listing requirements.
International trade attorney Lindsay Meyer, co-chair of Venable's international trade group, has retired, according to a firm notice at the Court of International Trade. Meyer received her J.D. degree from the George Washington University Law School in 1987 and worked in international trade for over 30 years, covering trade remedies, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and customs and homeland security matters. She also is a licensed customs broker.
Ted Mittelstaedt, founder of the San Francisco customs brokerage Mittelstaedt, Galaviz & Mylin, died Jan. 17 at the age of 92 after a brief illness, said his son Edward Mittlestaedt, who also is a customs broker. Ted was a Korean War veteran who got his customs broker license in 1957, MG&M said. He worked at the brokerage through early January.
The National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America is asking members to comment on Red Sea shipping experiences ahead of a Federal Maritime Commission meeting on Feb. 7 (see 2401120057). A Jan. 17 email sent by the NCBFAA asked members to share their experiences in the Red Sea and how diversions due to Houthi missile attacks have affected maritime shipping in the region. The association said it plans to compile the responses into an "industry-specific impact statement" that it plans to present at the FMC meeting.
The FDA posted a document showing the information needed "for successful filing of Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS) products," CBP said in a CSMS message Jan. 17. The information needs to be provided to the customs broker on the shipment in order to avoid a delay of an FDA admissibility determination, CBP said. "*Please share this resource with your customs broker," the FDA said.
The shorter time frame for filing type 86 entries announced by CBP Jan. 12 is likely intended to allow the agency to target de minimis shipments in advance and give it more time to complete its targeting processes, said customs brokers asked about the policy change.
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.
Coalition for a Prosperous America, an organization that has been arguing that de minimis should only apply to gifts and goods brought by consumers as they return from abroad (see 2312140046), wants to kill the Customs Modernization Act of 2023, the bipartisan bill introduced in the Senate that would update CBP authorities in a number of areas (see 2312110048).