Category Archive

CPSC has Started Accepting Requests for the eFiling of CPSC Certificates The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is now accepting registration requests for importers interested in testing in the CPSC eFiling systems. There will be access to up to 2,000 importers to test the systems. The eFiling will have a voluntary start up this summer after the Beta test of …

ILA Cancels Contract Discussions Over Automation Dispute The International Longshoreman’s Association (ILA) has canceled current contract negotiations over the use of automation at certain terminals. The ILA has been working on contracts with the local unions before working to finalize the main coastwise contract for six years with the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX).  This all stopped when the ILA …

The USTR is Taking Comments and Requests for Exclusions for China 301 Duties  In our last Memo to Clients, we wrote about the proposed additional products subject to China 301 duties and/or substantial increases.   The Office of the USTR will accept comments on the increase and will accept new exclusion requests.  The USTR opened the comments period on May 29, …

USTR Addresses Expiring China 301 Exclusions The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has decided on the current exclusions that are due to expire on May 31, 2024.  164 of those exclusions will be extended through May31, 2025. The other 265 exclusions will be extended until June 14. 2024 to allow importers to make adjustments for the short notice and …

USTR Has Proposed Changes in China 301 Duties The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has finished its 4-year review of the Lists 3 and 4a. They will continue the imposition of the existing 301 duties and will add new items or increase 301 duties on certain products on the list. The proposed new duties will not be added …

Important message to Carmichael Customers We were notified by one of our customers that a bad actor was trying to impersonate Carmichael and provided wiring instructions to their bank account. If you ever receive an email that appears to be from Carmichael International Service providing new banking or wiring instructions, DO NOT send any money until you confirm, by phone …

House has a New Bill for GSP Renewal The Speaker of the House has announced a new bill this week for the renewal of Generalized Systems of Preferences (GSP). The GSP Reform Act, introduced by Rep. Adrian Smith, would reauthorize the GSP program until December 31, 2030. The new bill (H.R 7986) will change some of the GSP participation eligibility …

Port of Baltimore is Closed Due to Bridge Collapse Due to the tragic collapse of the Francis Scott Ke Bridge, the Port of Baltimore is indefinitely closed to all vessel traffic.  Import vessels will be diverted to other ports. Export traffic can be moved by truck or rail and go to other smaller local ports. The terminals at the Port …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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) …

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, …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …