MEMO TO CLIENT ISSUE 24-002 February 07, 2024

Secretary of DHS will Increase Textile Enforcement It has been reported that after a virtual call with the National Council of Textile Organizations,  Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Mayorkas will increase enforcement on unfair trade practice on textile imports from China. The NCTO focused on forced labor, circumvention of U.S. free trade agreements, and the abuse of the de …

MEMO TO CLIENTS SPECIAL ISSUE 24-001 – January 10, 2024

CBP Has Opened Registration to the 2024 Trade Facilitation and Summit January 10, 2024 Dear Customer, U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced in a CSMS message that it has opened the registration to its 2024 Trade Facilitation and Cargo Security Summit (TFCS) that will take place from March 26 to March 28,2024 at the Philadelphia Marriot in Downtown Philadelphia. Those …

MEMO TO CLIENTS ISSUE 23-027- December 26, 2023

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT USTR has Announced Extending Existing Exclusions on China 301 Duties The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative issued a press release this morning announcing a 5-month extension to May 31, 2024, of the current exclusions from China 301 duty assessments that were due to expire on December 31, 2023. The USTR extended these exclusions as part of the ongoing …

MEMO TO CLIENTS ISSUE 23-026 – December 22, 2023

Statement from CBP on Operational Changes and Resumption of Rail Operations in Eagle Pass and El Paso December 22, 2023  Dear Customer, We’ve just received the below notification from US Customs.   “To meet the challenge, we are currently seeing across the southwest border, CBP is continuing to use all available resources to ensure the safety and security of our agents …

MEMO TO CLIENTS ISSUE 23-025 – December 20, 2023

CBP Suspends Rail Crossing Service in Eagle Pass and El Paso TX As of Monday, December 19. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has suspended service for international railway crossings at the bridges in Eagle Pass and El Paso Texas. This is due to a need to reassign personnel to adjust to a large influx of migrants trying to cross …

SPECIAL MEMO TO CLIENTS ISSUE 23-024 – DECEMBER 11, 2023

December 11, 2023 To Our Customers: It has grown increasingly difficult to predict what will happen with the economy, import volumes, and supply chain challenges.  We have learned to take things a month at a time and remain flexible. Carmichael experienced another year of growth and success.  We have added new customers while developing more robust solutions for many existing …

MEMO TO CLIENTS ISSUE 23-023-NOVEMBER 30, 2023

CBP has Issued Message on Proposed ADD/CVD on Aluminum Extrusions In a recent article, we wrote about the hearings that the Department of Commerce has initiated on a proposal for antidumping duty and countervailing duty aluminum extrusions from 14 countries. The hearings are not complete, but Case numbers have been assigned for each country.   U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) …

SPECIAL MEMO TO CLIENTS 23-022 – NOVEMBER 22, 2023

Update – Explosion at Rainbow Bridge LATEST UPDATES AT 3:20 P.M. The Rainbow Bridge Niagara Region border crossing is closed.  A meeting of all Canadian security-related organizations is underway Two individuals have been pronounced dead, according to multiple reports.             Rainbow Bridge explosion: two people dead, according to multiple reports | CP24.com Early reports of suspected terrorism. It is now suspected, …

MEMO TO CLIENTS ISSUE 23-021 – November 6, 2023

FDA Proposes to Amend Prior Notice for Foods Sent by Mail to the United States The Food and Drug Administration has issued a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM ) to amend the requirements of prior notice for articles of food arriving by international mail.  add a requirement that prior notice and food facility registration information be submitted within a …

MEMO TO CLIENTS ISSUE 23-020-OCTOBER 17, 2023

PierPass will Increase Its Fees This month the West Coast Marine Terminal Operators Agreement (WCMTOA) announced that there be an increase in the Traffic Mitigation Fee (TMF) at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. The TMF is collected through PierPass.   The fee will be increased by 4% to $35.37 per 20-foot equivalent container (TEU) and to $71.14 per …

SPECIAL MEMO TO CLIENTS ISSUE 23-019 – SEPTEMBER 21, 2023

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.  …