The Federal Maritime Commission will amend its proposed rule on unreasonable carrier conduct (see 2209130040), after industry, lawmakers and at least one federal agency said the rule was too broad, missed congressional intent and didn’t go far enough to address carriers that refuse to carry exports in favor of imports. The commission plans to issue a “supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking” to incorporate changes to the rule, FMC Chair Daniel Maffei said during a Jan. 25 commission meeting, adding that he hopes to publish the updates “as quickly as possible.”

Importers should consider four areas of risk as they develop anti-forced labor programs – at-risk populations, high-risk sectors, high-risk geographies and high-risk business models -- amid a rise of laws banning imports of goods made with forced labor worldwide, KPMG’s Elizabeth Shingler said during a webinar Jan. 24.

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 ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee said he was disappointed that renewing the Generalized System of Preferences benefits program and the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill didn't make it into year-end legislation in December. Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, said in a hallway interview at the Capitol that "for me, it's a very, very high priority. We really need to get it done."

T-connector and tail light converter kits with some Chinese parts don't qualify for preferential tariff treatment under the USMCA, according to a recently released CBP ruling, dated Nov. 15, 2022.

LAREDO, Texas -- An upcoming CBP final rule requiring continuing education for customs brokers could be issued as soon as the first half of 2023, with the continuing education requirements taking effect in 2024 for reporting on the 2027 broker triennial report, said Kiko Zuniga, director of the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America’s National Education Institute.

LAREDO, Texas -- CBP hopes this year to “formalize and normalize” its forced labor enforcement processes following initial implementation of recent changes to forced labor laws, including the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, said AnnMarie Highsmith, CBP executive assistant commissioner, in remarks at a conference Jan. 18.

Dozens of firms, large and small -- along with trade groups from agriculture and manufacturing -- asked the U.S. Trade Representative to retain or even increase Section 301 tariffs on their competitors' exports. The companies that said the Section 301 tariffs are providing leverage and leveling the playing field included a number of politically important and large steel industry players, such as Nucor, U.S. Steel and Cleveland-Cliffs. Opponents argued in the same docket that the tariffs had not met their aim, were driving inflation, or having unintended consequences on manufacturers (see 2301180029).

Hundreds of companies, as well as trade groups from agriculture, retailers and manufacturing, have told the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative that the Section 301 tariffs on $350 million in Chinese goods have not achieved their aim, have hurt U.S. businesses and, often, have not even moved production to other countries in Asia or to Mexico.

LAREDO, Texas -- CBP hopes to wrap up discussions with the trade on its 21st Century Customs Framework in 2023, “putting a bow” on its consultations with the Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee and putting legislative proposals to Congress, said Brandon Lord, CBP executive director-trade policy and programs.