A federal government shutdown due to the U.S. Congress inability to provide funding for the fiscal year starting Oct. 1, appears to be increasingly likely. For companies involved in international trade, such as importers, exporters and Customs Brokers, there is significant concern about whether U.S. Customs (CBP) and Partner Government Agencies (PGA) such as the… Read more »
U.S. CUSTOMS COBRA USER FEES (MERCHANDISE PROCESSING FEE) INCREASE
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has announced the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) for Fiscal Year 2024 which includes the increase in fees related to the arrival of vessels, barges, trucks railroad cars, and aircrafts. Another group of fees being increased, such as the Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF) is assessed when entering merchandise. … Read more »
West Coast Ports Labor Disruptions
There are reports of labor disruptions at West Coast ports as negotiations between the employer’s Pacific Maritime Association (PMA} and worker’s International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) continue. Some marine terminals at the port of Los Angeles and Long Beach were closed on Friday, and one of the Port of Long Beach terminals canceled daytime… Read more »
The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA)
The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) was signed into law H.R. 6256 by President Biden on December 23, 2021, and it became effective for goods imported on or after June 21, 2022. UFLPA establishes a rebuttable presumption that the importation of any goods, wares, articles, and merchandise mined, produced, or manufactured wholly or in… Read more »
Ocean Congestion & Constraints
As many of you are all too aware, the US importing and exporting communities face constraints and delays at a scope and scale never before seen due to a combination of many factors from huge surges in import volumes and the same time capacity has been limited in many of the physical cargo handling jobs. … Read more »