U.S.-based MVM Logistics said major shipping line MSC violated the Shipping Act by failing to provide MVM with “adequate” time to return containers and charging per diem fees for delays MSC had caused. In a complaint this week to the Federal Maritime Commission, MVM said MSC charged it about $800,000 stemming from unfair fees and failed to "establish, observe, and enforce just and reasonable regulations and practices relating to or connected with receiving, handling, storing, or delivering property."

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.

A Chinese freight forwarder illegally tried to change the terms of its signed service contract with a U.S. distributor and purposefully delayed 20 container shipments so it could submit higher detention and demurrage invoices, the American company said in a complaint this month to the Federal Maritime Commission. Indiana distributor Way Interglobal also said China-based Shenzhen Unifelix, a von-vessel operating common carrier, “improperly” disclosed Way’s financial information to Shenzhen’s vendors to try to force Way into agreeing to a new contract.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative will not initiate a Section 301 investigation on Mexican produce exports, it announced Oct. 23, at the deadline for the decision.

The practice of providing tariff schedule subheadings for merchandise sold to customers is "customs business," and requires a customs broker license even if a disclaimer is included that the customer shouldn't rely on the classification, CBP determined in a Sept. 29 ruling, released on Oct. 22.

The right third-party auditor is critical to the chances of success a foreign supplier may have in getting a withhold release order lifted on its products, customs lawyer Jessica Rifkin of Ben L. England and Associates said on Oct. 20. “The most important decision” that a producer can make is selecting an auditor whose results will be "credible and reliable,” she said during a webinar hosted by the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America.

It's legal for importer Keirton USA to enter marijuana-related drug paraphernalia into Washington state, the Court of International Trade ruled in an Oct. 20 opinion. Building on the trade court's similar Eteros decision, Judge Claire Kelly said Washington's repeal of past restrictions on marijuana-related drug paraphernalia constitutes an authorization of the manufacture, possession and distribution of these goods, so that importing these goods qualifies for the exemption under the Federal Mail Order Drug Paraphernalia Control Act of 1986. Kelly, like Judge Gary Katzmann in the Eteros decision, relied on the Supreme Court case Murphy v. NCAA to construe the definition of "authorization."

Although President Joe Biden criticized the Trump administration tariffs on Chinese imports during his campaign, and although his treasury secretary repeatedly said they contribute to inflation and some of them are harmful, trade lobbyists for UPS and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce said the tariffs are largely here to stay.

CBP provided more detail on factors it will consider when determining whether a customs broker is employing a “sufficient” number of licensed brokers under its new responsible supervision and control framework from the Part 111 rewrite (see 2210170071), in fact sheet released Oct. 19.

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.