Reps. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y., and Neal Dunn, R-Fla., introduced a bill to change the scope of packages eligible for de minimis. No bill text was available Jan. 10 from Suozzi's office, but former Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., said before he retired that Suozzi would be taking over his push to curtail de minimis.
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on Jan. 3 dismissed a False Claims Act suit against Amazon, which alleged that the online retail giant conspired with Chinese manufacturers to avoid paying fees and tariffs on fur products. Judge Edgardo Ramos held that importer Henig Furs, the company that brought the suit on behalf of the U.S., failed to adequately allege that Amazon knowingly violated the FCA or was engaged in a conspiracy to violate the statute (United States, ex rel. Mike Henig v. Amazon.com, S.D.N.Y. # 19-05673).
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:
CBP reminded the trade community that the agency will deploy the second release of the "Section 321 – Does Not Exceed $800 in Aggregated Shipments" enhancement in ACE on Jan. 11.
The country of origin for Corning Optical Communications’ fiber optic cables is France, and as such, the cables aren't subject to Section 301 measures even though part of the manufacturing process occurred in China, a CBP ruling released earlier this month said.
The New York-based entity formerly known as Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. has accused Hong Kong-based carrier BAL Container Line Co. of charging “unjust and unreasonable” demurrage and detention fees during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a complaint released by the Federal Maritime Commission Jan. 8.
The United States Maritime Alliance and the International Longshoremen's Association announced late Jan. 8 that both sides have agreed on a new six-year master contract, apparently avoiding a potential strike at ports on the East and Gulf coasts later this month.
U.K. lawmakers at a hearing held Jan. 7 described a Shein lawyer's immediate refusal to answer questions about cotton sourcing in the company's supply chains as "bordering on contempt."
The International Trade Commission is temporarily suspending enforcement of a limited exclusion order (LEO) banning importation and sale of plastic food trays by Ningbo Linhua Plastic Co., Ltd., that infringe patents held by Clearly Clean Products, it said in a notice to be published Jan. 10. The ITC originally issued the LEO in February 2021 (see 2103020015). The ITC is suspending the LEO because, "the subject patent claims were found unpatentable by the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board," overruling the complainant's opposition. However, the ITC has "determined to grant partial relief and to temporarily suspend enforcement of the LEO pending the cancellation of its subject patent claims or the reversal or vacatur of the Federal Circuit’s decisions," because the "LEO’s patent claims are still subject to U.S. Supreme Court appeal."
On Jan. 8, the FDA posted new and revised versions of the following Import Alerts (after not having posted new ones for a number of days) on the detention without physical examination of: