Customs & Logistics News
Recent Editions
U.S.
December 02, 2016
North American Free Trade Agreement Certificate of Origin 2017 Renewals
Please be reminded that any 2016 blanket period NAFTA Certificates on file will expire at the end of the year. Please forward via email any 2017 NAFTA Certificates of Origin to qmoore@tacustoms.com or your Trans American Personal Account Manager. To make a claim for NAFTA duty free preference, the Importer must possess a Certificate of Origin at the time the claim is made. To certify that the goods qualify for the preferential tariff treatment under NAFTA, the exporter must complete a Certificate of Origin. A NAFTA Certificate with claim is subject to NAFTA verification by Customs.
Reminder – U.S. Food & Drug Administration Biennial Renewal Period
Under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), all food facilities that are required to register with the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) need to submit a biennial renewal registration. FSMA requires facilities to re-register every 2 years during the period October 1 and ending December 31 in even numbered years. The renewal period opened on October 1, 2016 and must be completed by December 31, 2016 for the registration to remain in good standing. The owner, operator, or agent in charge of the facility, or a person authorized by one of them, can submit a facility’s registration renewal electronically at: http://www.access.fda.gov/
Alliances & 2017 Rate Volatility
As of April 1, 2017 there will be three global container shipping alliances and all three are operating with a similar capacity of container space. The competition caused by this equality in capacity will cause continued rate volatility in 2017. The Hanjin bankruptcy was a wakeup call for many importers and carriers are focusing on value propositions to importers hoping they will not only consider lowest cost carriers but focus on reliability and stability as well. Additional details are available at: http://www.joc.com/maritime-news/expect-new-alliance-structure-drive-rate-volatility-2017_20161122.html
LTL Outlook
Less-than-truckload (LTL) carriers are expecting an increase in freight in 2017. Carriers are also sensing the need to adapt to different cargo flows caused by e-commerce. LTL operators are working on expanding their terminal networks. Since 2009, LTL supply and demand has been balanced benefiting the carriers in terms of pricing control. Carriers will need to expand at a careful pace in order to avoid growing faster than the market demand. Additional details are available at: http://www.joc.com/trucking-logistics/ltl-shipping/estes-express-lines/betting-growth-ltl-carriers-expand-terminal-networks_20161129.html
Department of Homeland Security Issues 2016 Fall Agenda for U.S. Customs
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has published its fall 2016 agency rule list for U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP). The Regulatory Agenda for CBP is available at (agency listed as DHS/USCBP in link): https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaMain?operation=OPERATION_GET_AGENCY_RULE_LIST¤tPub=true&agencyCode=&showStage=active&agencyCd=1600&Image58.x=55&Image58.y=13&Image58=Submit
Canada
December 02, 2016
Safe Food for Canadians Act
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has provided an update on the Safe Food for Canadian Regulations Act. Pre-publication of the Regulations will not be until early 2017. CFIA is proposing to allow importers who do not have a fixed place of business in Canada to obtain a CFIA importer license it they have an address in a country that Canada has officially recognized as having a food safety system that provides a similar level of protection as the proposed Regulations. Full Detail at: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/about-the-cfia/accountability/consultations-and-engagement/foreign-food-safety-systems-recognition/final-report/q-amp-as/eng/1462380272329/1462380378219
