The promise of the International Trade Data System “has unfortunately not been matched by reality,” with duplicative and repetitive entry requirements for partner government agencies, including the National Marine Fisheries Service, the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America said in comments on NMFS implementation of ITDS submitted to the Office of Management and Budget.

International Trade Today is providing readers with the top stories from last week in case they were missed. All articles can be found by searching on the titles or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference number.

The State Department is encouraging importers to join legally binding agreements with labor unions that include mechanisms for workers and employers to ensure labor standards are being met and resolve labor disputes, preventing forced labor indicators in the supply chain, a State Department official said at a CBP event on forced labor on March 14.

Shipments of electronics comprised half the number and nearly 90% of the value of all shipments stopped under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act since enforcement began in the third quarter of 2022, according to data released by CBP as part of its UFLPA “Dashboard,” which debuted March 14. The bulk of those shipments were of solar products, CBP officials said at a press conference that day.

A personal hydrofoil is properly classified in the tariff schedule as a vessel for pleasure or sports, rather than as exercise equipment, CBP said in a recently released ruling. Though the importer of the hydrofoil had argued it can only float if moving forward, CBP interpreted the definition of vessel broadly to include all structures meant to carry people or things across water.

Democrats and Republicans on the House Ways and Means Committee signaled their displeasure to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, as she suggested that critical minerals mined or processed in Japan or Europe may be considered as in-bounds for regional value content if those countries reach a critical-minerals-specific trade agreement. The U.S. and Japan have a free trade agreement reached during the last administration (see 1909260014) which reduced or eliminated some tariffs, but was not a comprehensive FTA that required a vote from Congress.

A recent change to CBP's Part 111 customs broker regulations that requires client termination and reporting to CBP of intentional attempts by the client to defraud the government could conflict with existing prior disclosure laws and put the broker-importer relationship into conflict, Sandra Bell, a DLA Piper trade lawyer and former CBP official, said in a March 9 blog post.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told reporters after her meeting with President Joe Biden that he agrees that the goal should be for critical minerals processed, mined or recycled in the EU to qualify under Inflation Reduction Act standards for electric vehicle batteries.

Parts of an oil rig well head are properly classified as "other articles of iron or steel" rather than as parts for boring machinery or parts of taps, cocks and valves, CBP said in a recently released ruling the agency had issued in January.

CBP will require new data on entry summaries for aluminum products beginning on April 10, the agency said in a CSMS message issued March 9. The data will aid its enforcement of increased Section 232 tariffs on Russian aluminum that include articles from third countries that use any Russian aluminum (see 2302240006).