For January, we are highlighting Ivel Martinez, our Air & Ocean Manager/FTZ Administrator in the JAS Miami office. Ivel joined JAS in November 2021 and has been instrumental in helping manage the MIA Foreign Trade Zone operations. She is very meticulous in keeping records and validating inventory control.
Ivel's parents owned one of the first CFS warehouses in Miami. Ivel has been in the industry for many years and remembers typing 7512's on a huge brown typewriter.
Ivel has been happily married for 28 years and her family is extremely important to her. She has 2 sons, and 3 puppies. Ivel loves getting together with family and enjoying good food.
Ivel is yet another great example that People Make the Difference!
Census has published the Harmonized Tariff Codes that are not valid for AES filing for 2025. The US Census department issues a list of HTS codes each year that are not valid for use when filing an AES. Those numbers for January 1, 2025 are listed in the link below.
New Section 301 China Tariffs went into effect on January 1, 2025 for five subheadings. These increases are the result of the Four Year Review and will affect imports from China of certain tungsten products, wafers and polysilicon.
The rates on tungsten products will increase to 25 percent, while the rates for wafers and polysilicon will increase to 50 percent. Affected subheadings are 2804.61.00, 3818.00.00, 8101.94.00, 8101.99.10, and 8101.99.80.
Click below to check out more details.
If you are a Licensed Customs Broker, you should have received an email from CBP continuing education group with the subject line "Continuing Education for Customs Brokers Requirement Information," around November 22, 2024. CBP received around 200 rejected email messages and are trying to contact these recipients. If you are a current LCB and did not receive the email and you have checked your spam folder, you should follow the link below for more information.
Read more by clicking below.
The President of Mexico has announced a tariff increase on textiles and apparel. Tariffs will increase from 20-25% up to 35% on various apparel and made-up articles.
Click below to get the full story!
CBP officers in LA/Long Beach worked with other agencies and were able to seize over 3,000 counterfeit Gibson guitars. Had these guitars been genuine Gibson guitars, they would have been valued at over $18 million.
To read the full details, click below.
For December, we are highlighting Jeffrey Bispham on the West Coast! Jeff has been in the industry for 26 years and remembers using a typewriter to prepare 7512's. He has always worked in the import/customs brokerage side of logistics. Jeff was adopted as part of the JAS Family when JAS acquired Tigers back in 2021 where Jeff had long tenure.
In October 2023, the JAS Forwarding (USA) Tacoma Foreign Trade Zone became an active FTZ in the JAS USA Network. Jeff became the FTZ administrator of that site and has been instrumental in building the compliance for our FTZ site on the West Coast.
Jeff enjoys all sports, although he would tell all that he has become more of a spectator than a player as the years have passed. Jeff enjoys being outdoors. But most of all, he enjoys spending time with his family. That time can often occur at the beach, or a Seattle sporting event (Mariners, Seahawks and Kraken).
Jeff is yet another great example that People Make the Difference!
In November, JAS USA Corporate Compliance team members teamed up with JAS Atlanta Branch team members to facilitate client compliance training. From left to right, Calvin Oh (Corporate Compliance), Scott Cassell (Corporate Compliance), Carlo Rebuffi (Manager of Live Animals Division-ATL), Laurie Arnold (VP Corporate Compliance), and Rishma Patel (CHB Manager-ATL). The team was able to facilitate learning on the topic of import compliance.
OFAC (Office of Foreign Assets Control), part of the Department of Treasury, has imposed a $1.1 Million penalty on a US individual. The panlty was issued for 75 violations of OFAC Iran sanctions.
To read the full details check out the link below:
BIS has published its newest edition of "Don't Let This Happen to You!" The newest version includes new enforcement cases. New topics include the first Disruptive Technology Strike Force case, criminal cases, an assassination plot and much more.
Check out the full document at the link below:
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has added 29 new entities to the UFLPA Entity list. There are now more than 100 PRC-Based companies on the list. The companies on the list face significant challenge to enter goods into the United States because of alleged forced labor practices.
To read more details, check out the link to the Federal Register.
The President-elect has indicated that tariffs are coming to Canadian and Mexican goods in January. In a recent post on Truth Social, he has indicated that an executive order on January 20 will impose 25% on goods from Canada and Mexico with an additional 10% on goods from China. This action is to combat illegal immigration and illicit drugs.
This November, we are honored to feature Tracey Suggs, Import Specialist at JAS Forwarding USA Inc., for his tireless advocacy for individuals with Down Syndrome. While October marks Down Syndrome Awareness Month, Tracey and his family advocate every day for the empowerment and inclusion of individuals who face intellectual and developmental challenges. Inspired by his daughter, Treana, who has Down Syndrome, Tracey is driven to ensure that every individual can live their fullest life. Treana's zest for life and inspiring spirit is a testament to the impact of love, perseverance, and understanding that Tracey strives to bring to his work and community. Tracey’s unwavering commitment to making a difference embodies our values at JAS, reminding us all of the importance of inclusivity and advocacy in both our professional and personal lives.
Tracey has been with JAS for 3 years and has been in the industry for over 20 years. Tracey has a passion for sports, fitness, art, community advocacy (special needs/disadvantaged youth), and spending time with family.
JAS Forwarding VP Compliance, Laurie Arnold joined forces with JAS Forwarding Global Development Director Jennifer Koon, and Regional Sales Director Lindsay Gambee to attend the International Compliance Professionals Association (ICPA) Fall Conference (Western Cowboy Theme) in Grapevine, Texas from October 20-23.
They were able to meet with numerous members of the trade community and discuss current events and network.
On November 1, 2024, BIS imposed a civil penalty of $500,000 against a semiconductor wafer manufacturing company. The U.S. subsidiary shipped approximately $17.1 million of semiconductor wafers company listed on the BIS Entity List, without the required licese/authorization.
The company voluntarily disclosed the conduct and cooperated which resulted in significant reduction in the penalty.
To read more, check out the final order below.
The U.S. Trade Representative has announced the opening of a process to request Section 301 exclusions. The requests will be limited to certain machinery within chapters 84 and 85 of the HTSUS.
The docket opened on October 15, 2025, and the deadline for submitting requests is March 31, 2025.
To read more details, check out the link below to the press release.
On October 30, 2024, the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) determined "...that a U.S. Industry is not materially injured or threatened with material injury by reason of imports of aluminum extrusions from China, Columbia, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Itay, Malaysia, Mexico, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam that the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) has determined are sold in the United States at less than fair value, and subsidized by the Governments of China, Indonesia, Mexico, and Turkey."
The overall result is that "...Commerce will not issue antidumping duty orders on imports of this product from..." the countries listed.
It is important to note that older AD/CVD orders on aluminum extrusions remain in effect (2011).
To read the full press release, click the button below.
U.S. Customs has posted in the Federal Register the long-awaited information on the continuing education requirement credit hours for the current triennial period. The notice published in the Federal Register on November 1, 2024, CBP has announced that "...customs brokers license holders may begin completing qualified continuing broker education courses on January 1, 2025 (compliance date) and, accordingly, 20 credits as the prorated number of required credit hours for the triennial period beginning on February 1, 2024, and ending on January 31, 2027."
Additionally, the notice "...announces the criteria that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) used to select qualified accreditors, the list of CBP-selected qualified accreditors, and the period of award for these accreditors."
September was a busy month for JAS Forwarding (USA) Inc. Compliance team members.
Laurie Arnold and Leah Ellis attended the NCBFAA (National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America) GAC (Government Affairs Conference). During the conference, Laurie and Leah "walked the hill" and met with numerous congress members to discuss industry issues.
Scott Cassell spent time with clients in Newark, NJ along with J. Nathan May, Regional Sales Director to facilitate training on the HTS GRI (Harmonized Tariff Schedule General Rules of Interpretation) and Incoterms 2020.
Our October spotlight of the month is Rishma Patel from our Atlanta branch, where Rishma has been with JAS since 1997. Rishma has been in the industry for 32 years. She is the CHB Manager and Licensed Customs Broker responsible for the JAS Atlanta/College Park location.
Rishma's favorite sports are cricket, volleyball, tennis and badminton. In her spare time, she enjoys painting, drawing and food carving.
Rishma's dedication is yet another example that People Make the Difference!
The USTR (US Trade Representative) announced that they are proposing to increase Section 301 tariff rates on five subheadings of the HTSUS covering certain products of tungsten, wafers, and polysilicon.
The public docket was opened to allow for comments. All comments should be submitted by October 22, 2024.
To read more, check out the link below:
Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is working to modernize the options for filing certificate data. "CPSC is actively developing the eFiling program and finalizing rulemaking." This creates a new opportunity to streamline the filing of General Certificates of Conformity (GCC).
Read more by checking out the link below:
A new Federal Register notice has been issued on September 26, 2024, proposing a ban on Chinese and/or Russian "Vehicle Connectivity Systems (VCS)." According to the notice, BIS/Commerce "...is soliciting comment on this proposed rule, which builds on the advance notice proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) issued by BIS on March 1, 2024." Comments to the proposed rule must be received on or before October 28, 2024.
To read more details check out the Federal Register Notice
Our September spotlight of the month is Mr. Joseph Schmidt from our New York branch, where he has been with JAS since 1998. Joe has been in the business for 46 years and has been a Licensed Customs Broker since 1983. He is the Broker Manager and Licensed Customs Broker responsible for the JAS New York location.
Joe loves sports, and is a huge fan of the NY Mets, Giants and Knicks. He also loves Elvis Presley. His ringtone on his phone is the song "Follow That Dream" from the 1962 Elvis movie of the same name.
His long tenure shows not only his dedication to JAS, but also shows JAS' commitment to retain dedicated professionals because People Make the Difference!
The JAS Forwarding (USA) Inc. Corporate Compliance Team met in August at our Corporate Headquarters.
The JAS Corporate Compliance Team gets together regularly to discuss current trade compliance topics such as AD/CVD (recent aluminum case), and section 301 matters. Additionally, the Compliance Team is always strategizing on how to better serve our client's compliance needs.
The team was able to have an evening of team building throwing axes!
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The Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act (MoCRA) has recently gone into effect. The MoCRA is the most significant expansion of FDA's authority to regulate cosmetics since the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic (FD&C) Act was passed in 1938.
Manufacturers and processors must register their facilities with FDA and renew every two years. Examples of items subject to MoCRA include but are not limited to baby products, bath preparations, various makeups, hair products, and even oral products such as mouthwash.
There are free tools available to determine whether FDA's new MoCRA regulations apply. Check out the link below to utilize this free tool!
An importer of uniforms and footwear has been penalized $1.3 Million for a fraudulent scheme involving fake invoices that deliberately and materially understated the value of their imports. These goods were being imported from China, Pakistan and Bangladesh. The defendants, including the CEO were also accused of providing invoices misrepresenting the fabric content which resulted in reduced duty amounts.
To read more details, check out the full US District court order.
Indira Coomar from our JAS Forwarding (USA) Inc. Norfolk branch has been with JAS for 14 years in September. She likes to run each morning. During her runs, she takes some very beautiful photos of the sunrise over the beach and shares them with an inspirational quote to start many days. One of her recent quotes was “the secret to getting ahead is getting started!” We appreciate Indira’s motivation, and this attitude perfectly reflects that People Make the Difference.
July 2024, JAS Forwarding (USA) Inc.’s Laurie Arnold (VP Compliance) and Scott Cassell (Corporate Compliance Project Manager) facilitated a client seminar covering Foreign Trade Zone, Forced Labor and Duty Drawback. The event was hosted by our JAS Forwarding (USA)Inc. Charlotte Branch!
CBP publishes monthly trade statistics that provide a snapshot of the volume of shipments being processed. In May2024, CBP processed more than 2.9 million entry summaries. This includes numerous modes of transport from all over the world.
CBP’s monthly trade stats show duties paid, seizures, WRO data and much more.
To read the full article, check out the link below.
CBP has announced an increase of the Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF) within the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA). The fee increase will be effective on October 1, 2024.
The new minimum will increase from $31.67 to $32.71. The new maximum will increase from $614.35 to 634.62. The ad valorem rate of 0.3464% remains unchanged.
For more details check out the link below.
The USTR (US Trade Representative) has indicated that the increase originally expected on the 301 tariffs on August 1, 2024 will not go into effect as expected.
The USTR has received 1100 comments from the public and continues to review those comments. Modifications for 2024will likely take effect approximately two weeks after the final determination is made public.
Check out our client advisory and the links to the USTR and Federal Register Notice dated May 28, 2024.
To read more, check out the full register notice linked below.
The recent June 12, 2024, Federal Register notice added three entities to the UFLPA Entity List showing increasing focus on three additional commodities. The entities which were added are suspected of working with the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region to recruit, transport, transfer, harbor or receive forced labor or Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, or members of other persecuted groups out of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.
The areas of increased focus include shoe and shoe materials, frozen seafood, vegetables, quick frozen convenience food and other aquatic food, and electrolytic aluminum, graphite carbon, and prebaked anodes.
To read more, check out the full register notice linked below.
On June 24, 2024, the Assistant Secretary of Commerce, Matthew S. Axelrod signed a settlement agreement with an exporter for violations of EAR. The violations occurred because of forty-two different shipments over the course of 4 years which were classified under ECCNs 1C353. These instances were subject to export licenses, but no licenses were obtained prior to exportation.
The exporter has a compliance team and upon recognition of the issue, submitted a voluntary self-disclosure. To read more details, check out the link below.
On June 3, 2024, the BIS imposed a civil penalty of $44,750 for violations of the antiboycott provisions of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). In the press release, Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement, Matthew S. Axelrod said “Our antiboycott rules against furnishing prohibited information and failing to report boycott-related requests apply with the same force even when another U.S. company is the one making the information requests.” He goes on to say “U.S. companies are reminded to be vigilant in examining all transaction documents, regardless of the source, to ensure terms and conditions comply with our antiboycott rules.”
JAS Forwarding (USA) Inc. Compliance team members Laurie Arnold (NCBFAA Secretary) and Leah Ellis (NCBFAA Legislative Committee Chair) attended the quarterly NCBFAA board meetings in DC discussing Ecommerce, PGA’s, transportation, and customs issues.
One of the most exciting things to do for the 4th of July holiday is to see fireworks with family and friends! Did you know that 88% of fireworks in the United States are imported? It is considered a very specialized product with lots of regulations. CBP seizes tons of firework shipments annually that never make it past the US port of entry. So before getting into the business of importing fireworks consulting with a customs broker like JAS is important! Happy Independence Day!!
The last 30 days have brought many updates to Section 301 duties, exclusions and more. The action all started on May 14, 2024, when the USTR announced that further action would be taken against China’s unfair technology transfer policies and practices. It was announced that key products would be subject to new rates over the next two years.
May 22, 2024, there was a follow up to the May 14 announcement which further defined that 382 HTSUS subheadings and 5 statistical reporting numbers of the HTSUS are the specific products that will have the increases in 2024, 2025 and 2026. This notice also noted that an exclusion process is being established for machinery used in domestic manufacturing and under certain subheadings under chapters 84 and 85 of the HTSUS. Finally, this notice proposes 19 temporary exclusions for solar manufacturing equipment.
Finally, on May 24, 2024, the USTR published details about the disposition of the existing Section 301 exclusions 9903.88.67 and 9903.88.68 which have been scheduled to expire on May 31, 2024. In summary, all exclusions under 9903.88.67 and 9903.88.68 have been extended to July 14, 2024. On July 15, 2024, a new exclusion will be effective. The new exclusion, under 9903.88.69 will cover 87 of the original 352 exclusions under 9903.88.67.
For more details, check out our 3 Client advisories released during May linked below.
CBP publishes numerous Informed Compliance Publications. These documents can be extremely useful in answering detailed questions about the application of CBP rules/laws on a wide range of topics. Some of the topics covered include Valuation, classification of sets, classification of specific product types, drawback, reasonable care, recordkeeping, rules of origin and the list goes on. These documents are publicly available and can be viewed online or downloaded. To check them out, follow the link below!
The U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has updated the process for excluding certain steel and aluminum imports from tariffs, effective July 1, 2024. This revision removes twelve General Approved Exclusions (GAEs), aiming to strengthen domestic steel and aluminum production and reduce reliance on foreign manufacturing. The changes follow public feedback and are intended to ensure fairness and transparency in the exclusions process while upholding national security interests. BIS has been overseeing this process since tariffs were imposed in 2018, and these adjustments reflect ongoing efforts to refine controls and support U.S. industrial base.
In December, 2023, FDA issued guidance for Industry regarding the registration and listing of Cosmetic Product Facilities and Products. The publication lists product categories and provides a Q&A section with answers to specific cosmetic product questions. The deadline is July 1, 2024. For more info and links, check out our most recent client advisory linked below:
Insect Repellent is regulated by EPA and FDA for importations and classified in chapter 3808 of the HTS book. It can be imported as a cream, spray and other methods such as bracelets. Some repellents can be applied directly to the skin and other methods can be applied directly to the clothing.
Here are a few ways to reduce your exposure to mosquitoes this summer:
- Eliminate standing water in containers that could breed mosquitoes.
- Wear long sleeve clothes and socks to avoid exposing the skin.
- Replace outdoor lights with yellow bug lights which tend to attract fewer mosquitoes.
- Follow necessary instructions and labels closely on insect repellents.
A multinational organization based in Bangkok, Thailand, has agreed to pay $20,000,000 to settle potential civil liability for 467 apparent violations of OFAC sanctions on Iran. Between 2017 and 2018, the company facilitated $291 million in wire transfers through U.S. financial institutions for the sale of Iranian-origin high-density polyethylene resin (HDPE), manufactured by a joint venture involving the parent company in Iran. HDPE is a robust resin used in various plastic products such as food and beverage containers, shampoo bottles, and industrial items. Concurrently, the company initiated U.S. dollar wire transfer transactions to settle the joint venture’s debts to third-party vendors.
BIS has released the newest iteration of their guidance on export enforcement. The “Don’t Let This Happen to You” guidance document is dated March 2024 and is 76 pages of important guidance for the export community. The opening letter states “Export controls have never been more important to our collective security interests than they are today.” Follow the link below to check out more details!
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a Withhold Release Order (WRO) against work gloves manufactured in a Chinese company and its subsidiaries, based on evidence suggesting the use of convict labor. This action is part of the U.S. government's efforts to combat forced labor globally. With nearly 28 million workers suffering under such conditions worldwide, WROs are a means to deter companies from exploiting labor and to protect vulnerable populations. By enforcing laws prohibiting the importation of goods produced by forced labor, CBP aims to safeguard American workers, businesses, and consumers. Currently overseeing and enforcing numerous WROs and Findings, CBP emphasizes its commitment to eliminating forced labor from U.S. supply chains and encourages reporting of suspected violations.
JAS Forwarding (USA) Inc. VP Compliance Laurie Arnold (Secretary NCBFAA) and Leah Ellis, Compliance Manager (NCBFAA Legislative Chair) attended the NCBFAA annual conference in Ft Lauderdale in April.
The National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA) headquartered in Washington, DC metro area, represents many companies in international trade, including the nations’ leading freight forwarders, customs brokers, ocean transportation intermediaries (OTIs), NVOCCs and air cargo agents. NCBFAA is at the forefront of trade related topics in Washington DC and around the United States. The NCBFAA members handle 97% of the entries for goods imported into the United States. Further, members operating as OTIs are involved with approximately 80-85% of all exports from the United States.
Laurie Arnold has served as the Treasurer for the NCBFAA and was recently elected as the new Secretary of the NCBFAA. Seen on the far left in this photo, Laurie is contributing on a panel discussing “Liquidated damages, penalties, and other CBP fan mail.” Also on the panel was US Customs FP&F Director Lisa Santana Fox. She discussed the new Customs portal for mitigation request submissions. Laurie helped facilitate constructive discussion with the membership on the process and timelines of mitigation requests.
Leah Ellis serves as the NCBFAA Legislative Committee Chair. In this capacity, Leah works closely with the legislative committee advisor for the NCBFAA. The NCBFAA Legislative Committee works with legislators in Washington to advance positions of the trade community. Seen on the left in this photo, Leah was discussing Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) bill HR4986 and the end China de minimis bill HR7979. The panel also discussed and answered questions pertaining to the passing and signing of the Customs Business Fairness Act.
JAS Forwarding (USA) Inc.’s Compliance Project Manager, Scott Cassell, spent some time in Texas in the month of April facilitating Incoterms training on behalf of clients. Scott was also invited to speak at the ATX Trade Compliance Round Table Luncheon in Austin, TX. The event was attended by numerous trade professionals from Austin and the surrounding area.
Pictured in the photo from left toright are Scott Cassell, Antonio Pastrana (JASBM-Laredo), Lindsay Gambee (JASRegional Sales Dir SW), Helga Acosta (JAS BDM-HGC), Ernest Osei (JASBM-Dallas), and Curtis Corley (JAS BDM-DAL).
In recent years, gardening has blossomed into a global phenomenon, not merely as a pastime but as a vital component of sustainable living and environmental stewardship. As more people recognize the benefits of cultivating their own green spaces, the gardening industry has witnessed significant growth, reflecting in both domestic practices and international trade.
The United States, with its diverse climate and rich agricultural heritage, plays a pivotal role in the global gardening market. Examining import and export data reveals intriguing insights into the dynamics of this flourishing industry.
Imports:
The importation of gardening-related products reflects the diverse interests and needs of American gardeners. From exotic plants to specialized tools, the U.S. imports a wide array of goods to cater to the demands of enthusiasts.
- Plants and Seeds: The import of plants and seeds is a prominent aspect of gardening trade.
- Garden Tools and Equipment: Innovations in gardening tools and equipment drive import trends.
- Fertilizers and Soil Amendments: The import of fertilizers, compost, and soil amendments supplements domestic production, ensuring optimal conditions for plant growth.
Exports:
Conversely, the United States also contributes to the global gardening market through its exports, showcasing its expertise and innovation in horticulture.
- Seeds and Bulbs: American seed companies are renowned for their high-quality seeds and bulbs.
- Landscaping Services: Exporting landscaping services to enhance public and private spaces, U.S. firms contribute to the beautification and sustainable development of landscapes globally.
- Gardening Knowledge and Technology: Beyond tangible goods, the export of gardening knowledge and technology is gaining traction.
The Green Economy:
The gardening trade exemplifies the growing importance of the green economy. Beyond economic transactions, it fosters environmental awareness, promotes sustainable practices, and fosters community engagement.
As the world grapples with environmental challenges, gardening emerges as a grassroots solution, empowering individuals to connect with nature and cultivate greener, healthier lifestyles.
JAS Forwarding (USA) Inc.’s VP Compliance, Laurie Arnold and Compliance Operations Manager and NCBFAA Legislative Committee Chair, Leah Ellis, has diligently championed to help pass the Customs Business Fairness Act (CBFA) for many years alongside the National Customs Brokers & Freight Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA). In a significant victory for Customs Brokers the bill was included in a continuing resolution bill that passed both the House and Senate. The CBFA has finally come to fruition. “The CBFA bill has been a long-standing passion of mine to help prevent Customs Brokers from having to return customs duties when an importer has filed bankruptcy and at long last (20 years) this bill has passed and signed into law and I am very happy to have been a part of the march to protect the Customs Brokers of our industry,” said Laurie Arnold when asked for her reaction on the passing of CBFA.
The CBFA, a long-standing initiative of the NCBFAA, aims to protect customs brokers and their employees by advocating for changes in bankruptcy laws. The bill seeks to grant "subrogation" rights to customs brokers, allowing them to assume the priority rights of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) when importers file for bankruptcy. This would prevent payments made to CBP through customs brokers from being subject to preference payment recovery actions during the 90-day period preceding the importer's bankruptcy filing.
NCBFAA President Jose D. (JD) Gonzalez lauded the passage of CBFA, emphasizing its importance to the customs broker industry. He credited the dedicated efforts of the association's Legislative Committee leadership, Legislative Advisor Nicole Bivens Collinson, and member companies for lobbying lawmakers and pushing for the bill's passage.
Special recognition was extended to Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) for his role in championing CBFA in the House of Representatives. Garbarino reintroduced the bill at the association's request in 2023, garnering bipartisan support with 28 co-sponsors. NCBFAA expressed gratitude to its members for their engagement in advocacy efforts, including letter-writing campaigns urging Representatives to support the bill.
NCBFAA also acknowledged the contributions of individuals and organizations who worked tirelessly over the past two decades to advance CBFA. Past and current leaders of the association's Legislative Committee, along with former NCBFAA Legislative Representative Jon Kent, were recognized for their efforts. Additionally, the longstanding lobbying efforts of organizations such as the New York/New Jersey Foreign Freight Forwarders & Brokers Association, JFK Airport Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association, and International Trade Surety Association were highlighted as instrumental in the bill's progress.
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