Movement on legislation reauthorizing CBP before the Presidential election remains largely uncertain, as the window for introduction gets smaller and smaller, said the lobbyist representing the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA). With most legislation likely drafted, there's still a possibility of a bill's introduction this week, said Jon Kent, of Kent and O'Connor, who represents the NCBFAA on the Hill. The House is in session through Sept. 21, after which it's on recess through Nov. 13.
Tim Warren
Timothy Warren is Executive Managing Editor of Communications Daily. He previously led the International Trade Today editorial team from the time it was purchased by Warren Communications News in 2012 through the launch of Export Compliance Daily and Trade Law Daily. Tim is a 2005 graduate of the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts and lives in Maryland with his wife and three kids.
CBP received no comments on proposed ruling revocations and modification in the Aug. 15 bulletin (Vol. 46, No. 34), said a CBP spokesman. Comments were due Sept. 14 on the two notices proposing to revoke or modify rulings and similar treatment regarding the tariff classification of work footwear and reimported tires and cameras under harmonized tariff schedule subheading 9801.00.25 .
An American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) official will push for provisions to improve dredging efficiency, during testimony before a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Sept. 20 hearing on the “Water Resources Development Act: Growing the Economy and Protecting Public Safety,” said a AAPA spokeswoman. AAPA board Chairman Jerry Bridges "will stress the need to authorize new navigation projects to keep the U.S. competitive in the world economy and promote domestic jobs and economic activity," she said. "He will also address the need to put streamlining and efficiency provisions in place that will allow deep-draft dredging projects to move along more quickly."
Crowell and Moring hired Cheryl Falvey, general counsel at the Consumer Product Safety Commission, as a partner, effective Oct. 1.
CBP issued its weekly tariff rate quota and tariff preference level commodity report as of Sept. 17. This report includes TRQs on various products such as beef, sugar, dairy products, peanuts, cotton, cocoa products, and tobacco; and certain BFTA, DR-CAFTA, Israel FTA, JFTA, MFTA, OFTA, SFTA, UAFTA (AFTA) and UCFTA (Chile FTA) non-textile TRQs; etc. Each report also includes the AGOA, ATPDEA, BFTA, DR-CAFTA, CBTPA, Haitian HOPE, MFTA, NAFTA, OFTA, SFTA, and UCFTA TPLs and TRQs for qualifying textile articles and/or other articles; the TRQs on worsted wool fabrics; etc.
CBP posted a Sept. 17 version of its CF 1400 (Record of Vessel in Foreign Trade Entrances) electronic query report of the Vessel Management System (VMS), in accordance with 19 CFR 4.95, organized by entrances. CBP also posted a version of its CF 1401 (Record of Vessel in Foreign Trade Clearances) electronic query report of the VMS, in accordance with 19 CFR 4.95, organized by clearances.
Democratic lawmakers in the House and Senate added their support for the U.S. Trade Representative's request for the World Trade Organization to step in against China's automobile trade practices. President Barack Obama "has vigorously challenged China’s persistent failure to play by the rules, including doubling the rate of cases brought against China as compared to the last Administration," said House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Sander Levin (D-Mich.) "More needs to be done to rebalance this imbalanced relationship and the President has, through actions such as this, the Rare Earths case filed earlier this year, and the creation of government-wide International Trade Enforcement Center, taken strong steps toward that objective." The press release is (here).
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related issues:
The National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America said this year's Government Affairs Conference broke its attendance record. The conference Sept. 9-11 had "nearly 175 attendees," the association said. Next year, the conference is scheduled for Sept. 22-24, 2013 at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill.
The U.S. government is extending import restrictions for five years on certain archaeological material from Mali, which are set to expire Sept. 19, said CBP in a Federal Register notice Sept. 19. The notice said the State Department has determined that conditions continue to warrant the imposition of import restrictions and CBP's regulations will be amended to reflect the extension. A notice on the proposed extension ran in the Federal Register March 12. A list of the restricted goods is (here).