AAEI Co-Signs Letter on DOC Investigation of Aluminum Extrusions
January 17, 2024 – AAEI joined 35 other trade associations this week in sending a letter to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo about “the proposed overly broad scope of the ongoing antidumping duty (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) investigations on aluminum extrusions from 14 countries.” As the multi-association letter points out, aluminum extrusions are used as inputs to a number of products. But the law does “not permit the imposition of duties on inputs to imported merchandise.” The group, including AAEI, is asking the Department of Commerce (DOC) to remove incorporate aluminum extrusions from the scope of its investigations. Read the multi-association letter.
CBP Changes Filing Timeframe for Section 321 Shipments
January 17, 2024 – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced changes this week in a new test of Section 321 Low-Value Shipments, known as Entry Type 86. CBP is calling it The ACE Entry Type 86 Test. One of the main changes, effective immediately, is shortening the “deadline to file entry type 86 from ‘within 15 days’ of the arrival of the cargo to ‘upon or prior to arrival'” of the cargo. See the CBP notice here. AAEI’s Customs Committee discusses the issues and proposals around Section 321 de minimis entries. AAEI meetings are for members only. Please click here for information on joining AAEI.
FMC to Hold Hearing on Red Sea Shipping Disruptions
January 17, 2024 – The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) will conduct a public hearing on Wednesday, February 7, 2024, to examine the impact of conditions in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden on commercial shipping and global supply chains. The FMC aims to address disruptions caused by attacks on commercial shipping by Houthi rebels in Yemen, seeking input from the shipping industry on related issues. Recent FMC approvals of emergency Red Sea surcharges have raised concerns about potential exploitation, prompting the commission to closely monitor carriers’ rates, charges, and rules in the region. The deadline to participate at the virtual and in-person meeting is January 31. Read the FMC’s news release.
FLETF Considers Adding Seafood to Priority List
January 17, 2024 – At a recent hearing by the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Oversight, Thea Lee, deputy undersecretary for international affairs in the Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) said that ILAB is considering adding seafood as one of the priority sectors when it rewrites the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act strategy. Lee cited testimony from Ian Urbina, executive editor of The Outlaw Ocean Project, which recently published a report on forced labor in China’s seafood processing facilities and illegal fishing. Subcommittee member Mike Ezell urged the interagency Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force (FLETF) to act quickly on making seafood a target, emphasizing the need for increased enforcement in this sector. Read the Subcommittee’s news release and watch the recording of the hearing here.
Vietnam Outnumbers China in 2023 UFLPA Reviewed Apparel Shipments
January 17, 2024 – The US Customs and Border Protection launched an interactive dashboard in March 2023 under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act to enhance transparency in law enforcement. In 2023, Vietnam led in apparel, footwear, and textiles shipments with a value of more than $19 Million, followed by China at nearly $18 Million. From January to December 2023, a total of 679 shipments worth more than $40 Million were stopped under the UFLPA, with Malaysia having the highest shipment value at that time. For details, see CBP’s UFLPA Statistics here.
New EO Broadens Sanctions Scope for Financial Institutions
January 17, 2024 – A U.S. executive order issued last last year gives the U.S. broader authority to sanction financial institutions involved in shipping goods to Russia. The Biden Administration has not yet announced any designations under the order. The order heightens compliance risks for foreign banks and for U.S. businesses connected to foreign financial institutions in their supply chains. For more information, read the White House news release.
