CBP exams and holds on goods are among the largest difficulties among importers and brokers, according to the first Trade Efficiency benchmarking survey, released Aug. 8. The survey, done in June by the Advisory Committee On Commercial Operations (COAC), is meant to be a look at CBP's trade facilitation and effect on lowering costs of compliance. The survey was among a large set of COAC materials released by CBP. (See 12080922 for a list of the materials.)
Licensed Customs Broker
Customs brokers are entities who assist importers in meeting federal requirements governing imports into the United States. Brokers can be private individuals, partnerships, associations or corporations licensed, regulated and empowered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Customs brokers oversee transactions related to customs entry and admissibility of merchandise, product classification, customs valuation, payment of duties, taxes, or other charges such as refunds, rebates, and duty drawbacks. To obtain a customs broker license, an individual must pass the U.S. Customs Broker License Exam. Customs brokers are not government employees and should not be confused with CBP officials. There are approximately 11,000 active licensed customs brokers in the United States.
CBP posted a fact sheet spelling out the agency's efforts related to the planned rewrite of rewrite of 19 CFR Parts 111. CBP has said it will issue an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking on the rewrite. The fact sheet includes a list of challenges the agency hopes to address within the revision of the regulations.
Aug. 7 Bureau of Industry And Security's Materials Processing Equipment Technical Advisory Committee meeting, 9 a.m., Room 3884, Herbert C. Hoover Building, 14th St. N.W., Washington, D.C. -- Yvette Springer at Yvette.Springer@bis.doc.gov.
CBP said in a Federal Register notice Aug. 1 the following individual Customs broker licenses and any and all associated permits have been canceled due to the death of the broker:
CBP said in a Federal Register notice Aug. 1 that the following Customs broker licenses and all associated permits are canceled without prejudice:
July 31 Bureau of Industry Security Sensors and Instrumentation Technical Advisory Committee meeting in Washington, D.C., -- Yvette.Springer@bis.doc.gov
Recent allegations of customs evasion by San Diego customs brokers don't represent the integrity of the profession overall, said the National Customs Brokers and Forwarder Association of America (NCBFAA) in response to federal charges filed against a group of customs brokers. A group of eight individuals, including Gerardo Chavez, president of the San Diego Customs Association (SDCA), and three companies worked to bring in shipments worth at least $100 million, while avoiding more than $10 million in customs duties and taxes, the charges say.
CBP announced the suspension of a Customs broker license and all associated permits pursuant to section 641 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, (19 USC 1641) and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection regulations (19 CFR 111.53). The 30-month suspension is effective July 23. A notice of suspension for broker's license below ran in the Federal Register July 25.
July 24-25 American Conference Institute forum on ITAR compliance, Fairmont Washington, Washington, D.C. -- 888-224-2480
July 2-13 WCO Knowledge Academy for Customs and Trade, WCO Headquarters, Brussels -- http://www.eiseverywhere.com/ehome/index.php?eventid=40460&