U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a final rule, effective October 13, 2009, amending its regulations to specify the proper CBP official who is authorized to receive a final administrative appeal for a failing grade on the customs broker license examination.
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.
CBP has posted a notice on the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's announcement regarding an increase to their fees charged for certain agricultural quarantine and inspection (AQI) services. These rate changes will become effective November 1, 2009. (See ITT's Online Archives or 10/01/09 news, 09100105, for BP summary of APHIS delaying the AQI user fee increase until November 1st.) (Notice, dated 10/06/09, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/pleasure_boats/user_fee/2010_fee_increase.xml)
The New York and New Jersey Port Authority Board of Commissioners has authorized two initiatives to continue ongoing efforts to improve air quality in the region by providing incentives to shipping lines and terminal operators in the Port of New York and New Jersey to operate in a more environmentally friendly manner. The Ocean-going Vessels Low Sulfur Fuel Program will encourage the use of low-sulfur fuel by providing financial incentives to operators of ocean vessels for up to 50 percent of the cost differential between high-sulfur fuel and low-sulfur fuel. The Cargo Handling Equipment Fleet Modernization Program will reimburse participating port tenants for 20% of the cost of replacing existing cargo handling equipment with new equipment that meets federal on-road air-emission standards as applicable, or the most recent federal off-road emissions standards. (Press release, dated 09/24/09, available at http://www.panynj.gov/AboutthePortAuthority/PressCenter/PressReleases/PressRelease/index.php?id=1304)
Census Bureau and Bureau of Industry and Security officials discussed voluntary self-disclosures at the September 13-16, 2009 National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America Government Affairs Conference.
On August 6, 2009, Senate Finance Committee leaders Baucus (D) and Grassley (R) introduced the "Customs Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Reauthorization Act of 2009" (S.1631).
U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Port of Los Angeles has issued a Public Bulletin advising the public of, and inviting comments on, a proposed fee schedule change for the Centralized Examination Station operated by Price Transfer, Incorporated, for the CBP Anti-Terrorism Contraband Enforcement Team (A-TCET) at the Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport. (Bulletin LA09-022, dated 09/03/09, available via email by sending a request to documents@brokerpower.com)
The Agricultural Marketing Service is issuing a proposed rule that was requested by a group of petitioners seeking to establish a voluntary marketing agreement to cover the handling of leafy green vegetables and products in the U.S.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has previously announced that the next customs broker license examination will be held on Monday, October 5, 2009.
California's Energy Commission has proposed amendments to its Appliance Efficiency Regulations. Among other things, the amendments concern the efficiency of general service fluorescent lamps and general service incandescent lamps. (Amendments, dated November 2008, available at http://www.energy.ca.gov/2008publications/CEC-400-2008-020/CEC-400-2008-020-15DAY.PDF)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a new informed compliance publication entitled What Every Member of the Trade Community Should Know About: Cutlery of Headings 8211 through 8215 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States.