With the latest round of Section 301 Tariffs recently put in place, the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) has renewed its call for congressional legislation to rein in presidential authority to wage tariff actions. In a statement by CTA CEO Gary Shapiro, “The president does not have unilateral authority on trade. Congress should pass the Reclaiming… Read more : Consumer Technology Association Action on Chinese Section 301 Tariffs

The ocean freight industry has recently been operating under a cloud of uncertainty from Brexit and the unpredictable U.S.-China trade war. According to iContainers, these usual culprits aside, this year’s peak season is expected to be hit by two more contributing factors that could eventually affect global throughput growth. “The fluctuating situation surrounding Brexit and… Read more : Two Extra Factors to “Further Disrupt” the 2019 Peak Season

On August 29, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) published in the Federal Register a proposal to increase the rate of additional duty from 25% to 30% on products of China currently subject to tariff actions first taken in June, August, and September 2018. Public comments are requested and due by September 20,… Read more : U.S. Trade Representative Considering Raising Chinese Section 301 Tariffs from 25% to 30%

Further to our August 13 Bulletin, the effective date is by date of entry, and no grace period is provided for “goods on the water”. List 4A will be effective entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption September 1, and List 4B effective entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption December… Read more : Section 301 Tariffs On Chinese Origin Goods Update

Despite an uptick in truckload companies filing for bankruptcy, not enough capacity has been removed to fix the supply-demand imbalance in the spot market, according to logistics providers and trucking companies. Trucking bankruptcies reportedly are creeping up after hitting a 20-year low in 2018. As reported in the Journal of Commerce: JOC  

U.S. Customs has issued a proposed rule that would require customs brokers to collect certain information from importers to enable the customs broker to verify the identity of importers, including nonresident importers. Importer information and verification would be required annually. Updates and verification of existing clients would be required within two to three years after… Read more : Proposed Rule on Minimum Requirements for Customs Broker Collection of Importer Information

A 19 percent plunge in U.S. imports from Asia last month is the latest sign of a weak – or modest, at best – peak season. Analysts are forecasting a retraction to slight uptick in volumes in the traditionally busy August-October period. However, eastbound spot rates to the West Coast last week fell 7.2 percent… Read more : Plunge in U.S. Imports from Asia Signals Weak Peak

Effective for entries with an entry date on or after October 1, 2019, the minimum and maximum Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF) will increase with the ad valorem rate of 0.3464% not changing. Informal entries will have a new minimum of $2.14 (formerly $2.10) and Formal entries will have a new minimum of $26.79 (formerly $26.22)… Read more : Merchandise Processing Fee Minimum and Maximum to Increase October 1, 2019

U.S. Customs recently completed a Trade Symposium in Atlanta, Georgia. U.S. Customs Notice: https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/spotlights/changing-trade-environment-generates-interest-cbp-trade-symposium   This document is CONFIDENTIAL and contains PROPRIETARY information. It is solely for the use of the recipient. Any further review, disclosure, copying, dissemination, distribution, or use of any of the information contained in this document is strictly prohibited. The recipient… Read more : U.S. Customs Trade Symposium