U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted a notice announcing that the next customs broker license exam will be held on Monday, October 4, 2010.
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.
The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has issued a notice that lists those applying for OTI licenses as a non-vessel-operating common carrier (NVOCC) or NVOCC/FF OTI, as follows:
On June 28, 2010, Representative Owens (D) introduced1 H.R. 5619, which would amend the SAFE Port Act to provide for the eligibility of certain non-asset based third party logistics providers (3PLs) to participate in the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism program.
Nike, Inc. has sued a Customs broker for its role as the "attorney-in-fact" entry filer for the importation of counterfeit branded footwear. Nike seeks preliminary and permanent injunctive relief from further infringement of Nike’s trademarks, as well as damages, costs, and attorney fees.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a revised version of its informed compliance publication entitled, What Every Member of the Trade Community Should Know About: Footwear.
On May 11, 2010, the Departmental Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Related Homeland Security Functions (COAC) met in Philadelphia, PA to discuss a variety of trade issues. Highlights of the discussions include:
On May 5, 2010, the Clean and Sustainable Transportation Coalition sent a letter to leaders of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Highways and Transit Subcommittee1 urging them to reject efforts to re-write the trucking rules in the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act.
The Federal Maritime Commission has issued a proposed rule to amend 46 CFR Part 520 and create a new Part 532 to make available to licensed non-vessel-operating common carriers (NVOCCs) a new, voluntary exemption from the requirement to publish rate tariffs, if they agree to Negotiated Rate Arrangements (NRAs) with their shippers.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted the April 2010 customs broker license exam and answer key. According to CBP sources, the pass rate for the April exam was 11.1%.
The Department of Homeland Security has published its spring 2010 semi-annual regulatory agenda for U.S. Customs and Border Protection.