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Ian Saunders was elected to become the next Secretary General of the World Customs Organization (WCO). The WCO, an independent intergovernmental body representing 185 Customs administrations across the globe, is the global center of customs expertise whose mission is to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of Customs administrations. Mr. Saunders was the U.S. candidate and is currently the Deputy Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration.
Mr. Saunders stated previously that: “My vision for the WCO is to have an organization that builds on its past. The WCO is responsible for a lot of the consistency that we have in the management of local trade now. But I want to make sure that we’re building an organization that is focused on providing the right information products and services to members that will allow them to protect their societies better from both a revenue and a security perspective.”
“My vision also includes engaging the private sector in a different way. The WCO’s individual customs administrations have constraints on their resources, and we need to find ways to mine the expertise and resources of the private sector that shares an interest in seeing international trade function well. We need to engage in a way that allows those insights and those resources to be brought to bear on the problems that are bigger than any one of us alone.”
On February 11, 2025, the President issued a proclamation regarding the importation of steel and aluminum articles, increasing tariff rates to 25% from all countries. As part of that proclamation, it was announced that there would be expanded 25% tariffs to include key downstream products (derivatives) for both steel and aluminum. The Annex containing those products has been drafted and is expected to be officially published in the Federal Register on February 18, 2025.
Key Points:
• There are 167 new codes for steel downstream products (derivatives) subject to the 25% tariff referenced in this proclamation (covering 4 different chapters of the HTSUS).
• There are 123 new codes for aluminum downstream products (derivatives) subject to the 25% tariff referenced in this proclamation (covering 11 different chapters of the HTSUS).
To read the draft Federal Register, and access our Excel listing of HTS affected, click the links below:
For February, we are highlighting Jacquelyn Bakker, our CHB Manager in the JAS Chicago office. Jacqulyn started her career in the industry in 2012 in an accounting role before moving into the brokerage side in 2014. In her words, that’s when she “found my niche.” Jacquelyn joined JAS in 2018. After being named as the Brokerage Supervisor, Jacquelyn decided to take on the “daunting task” of obtaining her broker’s license. After 3 months of studying, Jacquelyn was able to pass on the first try! Jacquelyn manages a team of 6 entry writers in our Chicago branch and CHB manager. Jacquelyn is detail oriented and attentive to the needs of her clients internally and externally!
Jacquelyn has a 19-year old daughter, loving fiance and 2 dogs at home. She enjoys family time BBQing in the summer, taking the dogs for longs walks, playing Pokemon Go with family and seeing movies in the theater.
Jacquelyn is yet another great example that People Make the Difference!
CBP is leading global efforts in combating forced labor by imposing import bans on goods produced with forced labor. This has inspired international action, including the European Union’s adoption of similar measures and the inclusion of forced labor prohibitions in the USMCA. CBP’s actions have also driven labor reforms, notably in Malaysia, which launched a National Action Plan on Forced Labor and ratified an international protocol to combat forced labor. These advancements demonstrate CBP’s significant influence in shaping global supply chain accountability and driving positive change.
Read more about it by checking out the link below:
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