U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced its seizure of a shipment of nitrile disposable gloves from Malaysia suspected of being made with forced labor. This announcement confirms that a recent seizure authorization is broader than the original withholds release order and that CBP is in fact acting under that authorization.

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Senate Finance Committee Chair, Ron Wyden, announced legislation to update and reauthorize three expired trade programs: Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill (MTB) and the American Manufacturing Competitiveness Act (AMCA). The Trade Preferences and American Manufacturing Competitiveness Act of 2021 will extend duty-free access to the U.S. market for certain developing countries under GSP until 2027, with important updates to eligibility rules that ensure trade policy rewards advances in human rights, women’s economic empowerment, labor, environment, rule of law and digital trade, among others.

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U.S. Senators Rob Portman and Tom Carper, along with 38 other members of the Senate, sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Katherine C. Tai, asking her to restart the exclusion process for imports from China subject to tariffs under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. The Trump administration set up an exclusion process to help U.S. manufacturers and businesses receive relief from the tariffs when an imported good was not available outside of China, or when the tariffs caused severe economic harm to U.S. industry. Unfortunately, those exclusions expired at the end of 2020, and the Biden administration has not restarted a process for businesses to apply for new exclusions.

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Fabrics for Specialized Uses

Date: June 21, 2021

Location:  VIRTUAL

This webinar hosted by Customs & Border Protection will cover information as it relates to importing fabrics of specialized uses.

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SIA 2021 Virtual Summer Back to Basics Conference

Date:  July 12-16, 2021

Location:  VIRTUAL

This five-session conference will provide attendees with the important first step to exporting articles on the United States Munitions List (USML) and the Commerce Control List (CCL) and the associated defense services and technology. This webinar is deal for newcomers (less than 5 years of experience) to exporting under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Attendees will become familiar with the various types of licenses, agreements, exemptions and exceptions and the requirements and conditions associated with each.

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Laurie Arnold and Leah Ellis of Corporate Compliance at JAS Forwarding attended the NCBFAA annual conference and provided their committee reports at the annual meeting.  The NCBFAA conference is an annual event that brings together more than 600 international trade representatives from across the United States to discuss trade affairs.

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The new version of the publication “Don’t Let This Happen to You” is now available!  This publication is an introduction to the consequences of violating U.S. Export Control laws.  It includes actual investigations, export control and antiboycott violations published by the Bureau of Industry Security.  

To read the access the latest version, CLICK HERE.

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Ahhh, the smell of ripe strawberries lingers in the air as one of the most wonderful times of the year has arrived…. SUMMER!  

Consider strawberry picking as a family friendly outdoor activity this year!  Most of us are accustomed to strawberries from the grocery that were shipped in from faraway places and picked perhaps a bit early to ensure smooth travels.   Local strawberries are a totally different experience.  You are selecting each one yourself at the peak of perfection.  They are ripe and red totally through and filled with flavor beyond comparison.

Here are 5 tips to make your strawberry picking experience the best!

1. Pick on a weekday when strawberry availability is at its peak. Strawberries ripen over time and supplies are best mid-week.
2. Arrive right when the farm opens on weekends.
3. Local Berries are Fragile. Eat your strawberries or freeze them within 24 hours of picking.  
4. Dress for Picking!  You are visiting a working farm so close-toed shoes, sun hat and sunscreen are in order.  
5. Please pay for your Strawberries before eating them. It is hugely tempting to eat strawberries while picking, but strawberries are sold by the pound at most farms so you will need to weigh and pay before you enjoy.

Enjoy!! Cheers to the summer!

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USMCA WEBINAR 06.23.20

(Presentation only file below)

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CERTIFICATION FORM

There is no official certificate of origin form for USMCA; however, certification is required at the time of the claim.  Please find a template form that is available below if a form is preferred.