CBP Announces Dates for Forced Labor Tech Expo
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced the dates this week for CBP’s first-ever Forced Labor Technical Expo, “Tools for Supply Chain Transparency.” The event will be held March 14-5, 2023. No word yet on the location and venue for the event.
New HWM Committee Hears Why Retaliatory Tariffs Hurt
The House Ways and Means Committee of the 118th Congress met for the first time this week, holding a hearing in Petersburg, WV, which was hosted by a hardwood lumber manufacturer. Committee members heard from local residents about the current state of the economy, including an official at the manufacturing company. He told lawmakers that the 25% retaliatory tariff China put on the company’s exports forced them to close two mills. Read more on the hearing from the committee’s website.
FMC Addresses Congestion Surcharge in New Order
The Federal Maritime Commission issued an order last week requiring a carrier to provide justification for charging an importer a $1,000 congestion surcharge without explanation. Mediterranean Shipping Co. must explain to the FMC by the end of the month why the importer, SOFi Paper Products, isn’t entitled to a refund. The order also requires the carrier to “show cause why the Commission should not impose a civil penalty, under §§ 41310(d) and 41107 upon such finding of noncompliance with § 41102 and § 41104(a)(14).” Read the FMC order.
CBP Extends Reporting Deadline for Broker Employees
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced that it is extending the deadline for customs brokers to report all current employees in the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) portal to April 14, 2023. The original deadline was yesterday. CBP says it wants to “give brokers additional time to comply with the requirements and allow for implementation of technical fixes in ACE.” Read the CSMS message.
