On February 29, 2012, the Justice Department announced that Australian David Levick and his company, ICM Components Inc., have been indicted for conspiring to export sensitive military and other technology from the U.S. to Iran, including components with applications in missiles, drones, torpedoes and helicopters.
Licensed Customs Broker
Customs brokers are entities who assist importers in meeting federal requirements governing imports into the United States. Brokers can be private individuals, partnerships, associations or corporations licensed, regulated and empowered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Customs brokers oversee transactions related to customs entry and admissibility of merchandise, product classification, customs valuation, payment of duties, taxes, or other charges such as refunds, rebates, and duty drawbacks. To obtain a customs broker license, an individual must pass the U.S. Customs Broker License Exam. Customs brokers are not government employees and should not be confused with CBP officials. There are approximately 11,000 active licensed customs brokers in the United States.
At the February 21, 2012 COAC meeting, CBP officials said the agency plans to issue an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) to gather ideas on its planned re-write of the Customs broker regulations in 19 CFR Part 111. The ANPR will also ensure that all of the broker community has ample opportunity to provide comments and suggestions.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted a February 3, 2012 version of its frequently asked questions document on containers considered to be instruments of international traffic (e.g. reusable containers) that are imported into the U.S. with residual chemicals, cargo, goods, etc. The new version extensively revises and reorganizes its information on the upcoming requirement that residue in IIT be manifested, classified, and entered, with detailed specifics on (1) what carriers and importers of record will be responsible for, and (2) the procedures for manifesting and entering IIT with residual cargo, among other changes.
On February 21, 2012, the Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of Customs and Border Protection (COAC) met in Washington D.C. to hear an update from the Broker Workgroup1 on CBP's plans to allow customs brokers to pre-certify Importer Self-Assessment (ISA)2 applicants.
The Department of Homeland Security has released a report on its accomplishments in 2011, in connection with a speech by Secretary Janet Napolitano on the progress DHS has made that year. Among other accomplishments, the report notes that (1) the Container Security Initiative is now active at more than 50 overseas ports, and (2) the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) has grown to more than 10,200 Certified Partners worldwide.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has announced that it will conduct the next Customs Broker License Examination on Monday, April 2, 2012.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted a frequently asked questions and answers document to provide guidance to licensed Customs brokers on the submission of the Triennial Status Report and fee. The next triennial status report, in addition to a $100 fee, should be filed by February 29, 2012.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has announced that the following Customs broker licenses and all associated permits are cancelled without prejudice:
This is a reminder that U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted a frequently asked questions and answers document to provide guidance to licensed Customs brokers on the submission of the Triennial Status Report and fee. The next triennial status report, in addition to the $100 fee, should be filed by February 29, 2012.
The Federal Maritime Commission has issued a proposed rule that would increase the amount of bond coverage required in its optional China Bond Rider for Non-Vessel-Operating Common Carriers so that total NVOCC financial responsibility would equal 800,000 Chinese Renminbi (RMB) under current exchange rates. The proposed rule would also provide a method for NVOCCs to demonstrate financial responsibility by aggregating the total coverage of a bond and all of its riders. Comments are due by March 12, 2012.