Public comments submitted to the Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee's Jan. 14 meeting were supportive of the committee's recommendations calling for CBP to release clearer and additional guidance on how importers can comply with Section 232 tariffs (see 2601120017), particularly when it comes to the valuation of steel and aluminum content.
The U.S. opened a customs penalty suit on Jan. 8 against importers Skyline International and Skyline Brands, along with their owner Zainulabedin Subhani, alleging that the three defendants undervalued their entries of household merchandise. The government is seeking a penalty totaling over $3.4 million for the defendants' alleged fraud along with a judgment of over $447,000, which represents the duties avoided by the defendants (United States v. Skyline International, CIT # 26-00295).
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The National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America is urging CBP to "embrace" electronic data submission methods instead of proposing to modify paper-based Form 7501 to allow for situations where there are multiple countries of melt and pour or smelt and cast.
CBP on Dec. 30 created Harmonized System Update 2543 containing 4,893 Automated Broker Interface records and 872 Harmonized Tariff Schedule records. HSU 2543 includes the end-of-year Harmonized Tariff Schedule updates, effective Jan. 1.
Effective Feb. 6, CBP is transitioning to electronic refunds instead of offering refunds by check. The agency is set to publish an interim final rule in the Federal Register outlining how it will do so, noting that the third party designated on CBP Form 4811 will continue to be valid after the transition goes fully into effect.
Some customs brokers have been seeing an increase in timed-out messages when running reports in the ACE portal, customs brokers told International Trade Today.
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Karen Damon will be the new vice president of the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America, replacing Kristi App, who vacated the position after accepting a job at the Port of New Orleans (see 2512080029), the NCBFAA said in an emailed news release. Leo James will replace Damon as NCBFAA treasurer. Both were elected to their new positions by the NCBFAA board.
A California customs broker was sentenced on Dec. 18 to 51 months in prison for defrauding importers, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California announced. Frank Seung Noah owned and operated customs brokerage Comis International and also was ordered to pay $7,579,141 in restitution.