A new bill was introduced in Congress last week that aims to tackle the enormous amount of pollution generated by the ocean shipping industry. Introduced by Congressman Alan Lowenthal (CA-47) and cosponsored by Congresswoman Nanette Barrigan (CA-44), the Clean Shipping Act aims to eliminate pollution from all ocean shipping companies [...]
Relief could soon be coming from the Section 301 tariffs thanks to the forward progress of a case filed with the Court of International Trade in 2020. The tariffs are affecting hundreds of billions of dollars worth of certain US products imported from China. If the case is successful, importers [...]
U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) has announced that it will be adjusting the customs user fees corresponding to the Consolidated Ombinus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) by 18.629% to adjust for inflation. The fee adjustments were mandated by the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act.) The adjusted fees will [...]
After years of feedback and collaboration with brokers and the trade community, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has published two Final Rule changes to the customer broker regulations in 19 CFR 111 that will impact the customs broker industry. These are “Modernization of the Customs Broker Regulations” (87 FR [...]
A new report recommends that Section 337 of the 1930 Tariff Act should be expanded to better address what many feel are China’s unfair trade practices when it comes to competition with domestic U.S. products. The report argues that the hefty tariffs introduced on Chinese imports under Section 301 are [...]
What were the major trends in export controls, trade sanctions, customs compliance, and import requirements in the U.S. and around the world? Check out the series of videos posted by global law firm Baker McKenzie. The videos were recorded across three days and feature the firm’s top international trade compliance [...]
The original Lacey Act dates back to 1900, and its purpose is to help prevent the trade of wildlife, plants, and plant products (including timber) that has been illegally taken, held, transported, or sold. The Lacey Act and its various amendments make it unlawful to import certain products without an [...]
The Fish and Wildlife Service has made several amendments to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) Appendix I and II, which deals with the import and export of wild animals and plants into and out of the US. The majority of the amendments will take effect on [...]
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued a final rule aimed at strengthening the oversight and enforcement of the production, handling, and sale of organic products. The Strengthening Organic Enforcement (SOE) rule is the biggest update to the organic regulations since the original Act in 1990, according to USDA [...]
The new requirements for customs brokers with power of attorney (POA) under 19 CFR 111.36(c)(3) established by the Modernization of the Customs Broker Regulations Final Rule (87 FR 63267) are now in effect. A Power of Attorney agreement gives another party (either an individual or a company) the authority to [...]
