Eagle Pass Bridge Temporary Closing U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced yesterday afternoon, September 20, that they were temporarily suspending cargo entry and north bound vehicle processing at Bridge 1 and the international railway crossing bridge in the Port of Eagle Pass, Texas. Bridge 2 is open, but movements are delayed CBP is redirecting the personnel at these sites …
MEMO TO CLIENTS ISSUE 23-018 – September 15, 2023
CBP Announces Date of 2024 Trade Facilitation and Cargo Security Summit U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has sent out it “Save the Date” notification for 2023 Trade Facilitation and Caro Security Summit. The Summit will be held in Philadelphia at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown from March 26 to March 28. CBP will issue registration instructions as we get closer …
SPECIAL MEMO TO CLIENTS ISSUE 23-017-SEPTEMBER 07,2023
The USTR Extends Current China 301 Exclusions The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has announced the extension the 352 current existing exclusions that were extended in March of 2022. The USTR will also extend the 77 exclusions granted for Covid -19 related products. Both sets of exclusions were set to expire on September 30, 2023, and both sets …
MEMO TO CLIENTS ISSUE 23-016 – AUGUST 28, 2023
Agricultural Marketing Services Announces Changes in Cotton Fees The Agricultural Marketing services (AMS) issued a Federal Register Noice (FRN) announcing the changes to cotton fees that will be collected for the Cotton Board through entries filed with Customs and Border Protection. The change is an increase in the value assigned to imported cotton. This is a proposed change that will …
SPECIAL MEMO TO CLIENTS ISSUE 23-015 – August 04, 2023
CBP Announces User Fees Adjustments U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a Federal Register Notice (FRN) announcing that the annual increase in COBRA user fees that include entry merchandise processing fees that will go into effect on October 1, 2023. The increase will be assessed on entries filed on that date or later. They are not assessed based on …
MEMO TO CLIENTS ISSUE 23-014 – August 04, 2023
CBP Issues New Instructions on Moving Cargo Held for Forced Labor U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a Cargo Systems Messaging Service (CSMS) with two new instructions for Cargo that has been put on hold for suspicion of being made by forced labor. Importers can make a request to the Port Director that their detained cargo be moved to …
SPECIAL MEMO TO CLIENTS ISSUE 23-013 – July 19, 2023
ILWU Canada has Rejected the Tentative Labor Agreement Federal mediators in Canada presented terms to both the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada (ILWU Canada) and the British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA). On Thursday, July 13, both sides tentatively agreed to terms subject to ratification. However, ILWU Canada has rejected the agreement and the strike is back on.
MEMO TO CLIENTS ISSUE 23-012 – JULY 17, 2023
ILWU Canada and BCMEA Reach a Tentative Agreement to End Strike Federal mediators in Canada presented terms to both the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada (ILWU Canada) and the British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA). On Thursday, July 13, 2023, both sides tentatively agreed to the terms. This agreement is subject to ratification by both parties, but the agreement …
MEMO TO CLIENTS ISSUE 23-011 – JULY 06, 2023
ILWU Canada Starts a Strike The International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada (ILWU Canada) issued a 72-hour strike notice to the British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) on June 28, 2023, to allow the terminals to prepare. While the contract expired on March 31, 2023, the two sides have been meeting since February of 2023. ILWU Canada began its walkout …
MEMO TO CLIENTS ISSUE 23-009 – June 15, 2023
ILWU and PMA Reach a Tentative Contract Agreement The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWWU) and the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) have announced that they have Reached a tentative agreement on a new 6-year contract for the West Coast ports. Neither side would release details of the agreement yesterday, but now the ILWU membership will have to ratify the agreement. …
Special Memo To Clients Issue 23-008 – June 05, 2023
Labor Disruption on the West Coast Last Thursday coastwide contract negotiations between the ILWU and the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) reached a breakdown over wage issues. Until Thursday, negotiations had been reported as moving along well. However, negotiations took a significant turn for the worse on Thursday, resulting in a breakdown of talks. The ILWU and PMA are now reportedly …
MEMO TO CLIENTS ISSUE 23-007-MAY 19, 2023
Update on Port Labor Contracts ILWU local 13 in Los Angeles and Long Beach had engaged in job actions in early April. There was a one-day walkout before Easter and the union increased red tagging of chassis entering the terminals which caused delays in picking up container that went one for a week. These actions ceased leading up to the …
MEMO TO CLIENTS ISSUE 23-006-MAY-08,2023
Senator Wyden Addresses GSP as Part Comments on Trade Legislation Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden (D-ORE) addressed Generalized System Preferences (GSP) of preferences in his comments on a China package his committee is working on to deal with economic competition with China. He mentioned that Democrats still support denying benefits under GSP for countries that do not protect women …
Special Memo Issue 23-005-May 01, 2023
Carmichael International Service opens a Customs Brokerage office in Dallas, TX. May 01, 2023 Monterey Park, CA – Carmichael International Service is very pleased to announce the launch of a full-service Customs Brokerage office in Dallas, TX. This new Dallas Customs Brokerage office marks Carmichael’s thirteenth facility in the United State and second office in the state of Texas. The …
MEMO TO CLIENTS ISSUE 23-004 April 03, 2023
CIT Holds that USTR Complied with the Administrative Procedure Act in China 301 Duty Case The Court of International Trade (CIT), in a decision on March 17, has held that the Office of the U.S March 17Trade Representative (USTR) complied with the Administration Procedure Act when it set up the lists 3 and 4(a) of the Section 301 duties assessed …
MEMO TO CLIENTS ISSUE 23-003- MARCH 9, 2023
CBP Trade Webinars in April U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will host two new trade webinars in April. The first one will be on Petroleum gases and other Gaseous Hydrocarbon in heading 2711 and it will be on Tuesday, April 4, 2023. The second will be on What is a Men’s T-Shirt and What isn’t a Men’s T-shirt, and …
MEMO TO CLIENTS ISSUE 23-002 – February 21, 2023
Trade Facilitation and Cargo Security Summit Registration Opens February 22nd U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will open the registration to its 2023 Trade Facilitation Cargo Summit on February 22nd, 2023, at 12:00 PM Eastern time. The Summit will be held in Boston from April 17th to April 19th. The registration information and the hotel location will be published on …
MEMO TO CLIENTS ISSUE 23-001 – January 18, 2023
CBP Clarifies China Postal Code Requirement In November 2022, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) unveiled new requirements for postal codes to be included in China Manufacturer ID’s. The instructions implied that a China postal code will be required when a China MID is used for the release of cargo and for entry summary line information when an item is …
MEMO TO CLIENTS ISSUE 22-016 – December 21, 2022
USTR Extends Several China 301 Exclusions! The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has announced that the 352 exclusions from China 301 duties that were extended back on March 28, 2022, and were due to expire on December 31, 2022, have been extended for nine months. They are now due to expire on September 30, 2023. The list of …
MEMO TO CLIENTS ISSUE 22-015 – November 30, 2022
President Biden Requests Congressional Pressure to Resolve Potential Rail Strike The votes on the union ratification of the proposed contract with the railroads have been submitted. 8 of the 12 unions ratified the contracts and 4 rejected the contract. This has set up a potential strike after December 9, 2022, which is when the cooling off period ends. President Biden …