On May 17, the European Commission (EC) unveiled an ambitious reform plan for the EU Customs Union to include the creation of the EU Customs Data Hub to provide a single interface and data repository for all traders to interact with EU Customs. The proposal also includes a “Trust & Check” program for approved traders to import goods without customs intervention, self-monitor for compliance, and pay duties periodically. The de minimis duty exemption of 150 Euro would be eliminated and online platforms would become the “deemed importer” for e-commerce shipments instead of the purchaser.

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Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently announced its Green Trade Strategy to incentivize green trade, strengthen CBP’s environmental enforcement posture, accelerate green innovation, and improve climate resilience and resource efficiency. On July 11, 2023, CBP will host a Green Trade Innovation and Incentives Forum to allow members of the trade industry, academia, and any other interested entities to share ideas and innovations related to this strategy.

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U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announed on 05/12/23 an indefinite delay in the deployment of the much anticipated Ocean House Bill of Lading Release in the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE). A follow-up notice will be issued once a new date is established. Also, the recently announced deloyment date of 05/20/23 for the “Automation of CBP Form 6051D for Detentions Filed in ACE” was changed to “TBD” (To be determined). This was noted on the ACE Deployment Schedule without an official announcement.

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Sheffield Hallam University released a new brief entitled “Products Made with Uyghur Forced Labor”. The University’s past briefs and investigations have informed Customs and Border Protection (CBP) actions relating to forced labor. The brief outlines an extensive list of products currently being manufactured in the Xinjiang region of China including aluminum, steel, copper, food additives and supplements and batteries.

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British American Tobacco and its Singaporean subsidiary agreed to pay combined penalties of more than $629 million in a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) for bank fraud and sanctions violations concerning clandestine sales of tobacco to various North Korean entities. Assitant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen was quoted as saying, “Today’s action, which involves the largest North Korean sanctions penalty in the history of the Justice Department, should serve as a clear warning to companies everywhere about the costs and consequences of violating U.S. sanctions.”

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U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s 2023 Trade Facilitation and Cargo Security Summit was held April 17 to 19 in Boston with a record live attendance of 1,200 and 3,000 virtual participants. Panel and breakout sessions covered a variety of topics including De Minimis challenges, Cybersecurity, Forced labor enforcement, Green trade, E-commerce, Broker Modernization, and several Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT) sessions. CBP Acting Commissioner Troy A. Miller spoke at the event and stated, “Protecting the security, health and economic vitality of the American people has required intense work and commitment from customs brokers, logistics experts, importers and exporters, legal advisors, civil society and many more. Thank you for your partnership.”

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The month of June is the birth month of a historical figure whose life, though brief, continues to inspire to the present day. Anne Frank was born on June 12, 1929. Anne was a young Jewish girl who documented her family’s experiences in a series of diaries she wrote while hiding from Nazi persecution from 1942 to 1944 in an attic in Amsterdam. Tragically, Anne and her family were eventually discovered and arrested by the Gestapo. Anne was sent to Bergen-Belsen concentration camp where she tragically died. However, in spite of her suffering, Anne penned such quotes as “Where there’s hope, there’s life. It fills us with fresh courage and makes us strong again”. May we all approach each day with the same hope-filled spirit. 

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