Customs and Trade News Weekly Snapshot | Customs & International Trade Law Blog

Here is a recap of the latest customs and international trade law news:      

Customs and Border Protection (CBP)  

• CBP releases March 2024 monthly update. Highlights: 
  • Processed more than 2.8 million entry summaries 
  • Identified estimated duties of nearly $6.2 billion to be collected by the U.S. government 
  • Stopped 749 shipments for further examination based on the suspected use of forced labor 
  • Seized 1,633 shipments that contained counterfeit goods 
• CBP’s National Commodity Specialist Division (NCSD) has announced its webinar series lineup for May. View full list here. 
• CBP published an update This is an update to their April 1 publication on vague cargo descriptions.  published on April 1, 2024.  
  • This nationwide cargo messaging will be sent in the SO20 record (position 8-57) with a Reference Identifier Qualifier “CMT” within the ACE Cargo Release Status Notification message.
• EAPA Update: EAPA Case 7818: AMVC-Midwest LLC aka Midwest Livestock Systems, LLC (Notice of Determination as to Evasion). 

Department of Commerce (DOC) 

• AD/CVD Update: Clad steel plate from Japan: continuation of antidumping duty order. 

U.S. State Department 

• The Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) issued a white paper providing general findings from visiting various universities and research centers that are engaged in activities of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations from 2020 to early 2024.   
• The paper provides general compliance commendations, including “best practices” and recommendations that the Office of Defense Trade Controls Compliance provided to the universities following each visit. 

U.S. Department of Treasury 

• Treasury, in coordination with the United Kingdom, issued two new prohibitions to disrupt the revenue that Russia earns from its export of aluminum, copper, and nickel.  
  • The action prohibits the import of Russian-origin aluminum, copper, and nickel into the United States, and limits the use of Russian-origin aluminum, copper, and nickel on global metal exchanges and in over-the-counter derivatives trading. 

Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) 

• OFAC issued a final rule to remove the Zimbabwe Sanctions Regulations, 31 CFR part 541, from the Code of Federal Regulations. 
  • OFAC took this action because the national emergency on which the sanctions were based was terminated by the President on March 4, 2024.  
• OFAC adds Belarus individuals to SDN list 

United States Trade Representative (USTR) 

• USTR Ambassador Katherine Tai testified before the Senate Finance Committee on the President’s 2024 trade policy agenda. 

World Trade Organization (WTO) 

• Applications open for WTO advanced course on Analyzing Trade in Services. 
  • The workshop is aimed at government officials from WTO members and observers eligible to benefit from WTO training activities, with direct policy responsibility or a demonstrated background in trade in services or who have completed a WTO training activity. 
• WTO releases new Global Services Trade Data Hub.  
  • The new Hub now available on the WTO website provides access to comprehensive WTO data on services trade. It provides visualizations and customizable features for download — catering to the diverse needs of trade negotiators, analysts, researchers and decision-makers — to deliver insights into global services trade. 

Department of Justice (DoJ) 

• Former North Korean official indicted on sanctions evasion, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and money laundering charges. 
• Pennsylvania man sentenced to prison for illegally exporting weapons parts and related services to Iraq. 

Administration 

• Biden calls for tripling tariffs on Chinese metals 
• In a speech in front of members of the United Steelworkers Union, the president said the Chinese prices were “unfairly low” due to the government subsidizing companies “who don’t need to worry about making a profit”. 

Congress 

• House Appropriations Committee appointment of new subcommittee chairs: 
  • Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development – Rep. Womack 
  • Financial Services and General Government – Rep. Joyce  
  • Legislative Branch – Rep. Valadao  
  • Homeland Security – Rep. Amodei  

International News 

• North American Importer groups and brokers sent a letter to Canadian authorities warning that the upcoming CARM launch is not ready. 
• The group sent a letter to Canada’s Committee on International Trade (CIIT) explaining why the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) Assessment and Revenue Management System (CARM) is not ready for its May 13 launch. The groups cite a low number of participants fully certified and ongoing incorrect calculations of duties and taxes in CARM. 

Want more customs and international trade news? Sign up for our weekly snapshot!

The post Customs and Trade News Weekly Snapshot appeared first on Customs & International Trade Law Blog.