Tariff Reduction Bill Signed Into Law (From Sandler Travis)
President Trump signed into law Sept. 13 the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill Act (H.R. 4318), which suspends or reduces through Dec. 31, 2020, import duties on approximately 1,700 products generally not made in the US. A majority of the products covered by the MTB are chemicals, but textiles, apparel, and footwear; machinery and equipment; and agricultural and fishery products are included as well. For more info, please go to
https://www.strtrade.com/news-publications-miscellaneous-trade-bill-MTB-091718.html?mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiWkRsaU4yWmxZV1U0TTJVeCIsInQiOiJwQ1JmdWhjeUJzQ29nVFoybDlBeVhyNXdCWHE4N0NzQ1VcL1FLaFwva1N5TElxc3FXOFE1N0U4UlRMd3lidHdpMkIwa1lkc01TZDN4YjhFU0hZcVBaTEF2RFA0R205MXhQRk9oaldPZVc5MGZlSWNxd2NvNEV4Z25KeEZ6Z3lLSmRHIn0%3D
Canada pulled into new North American trade pact (From American Shipper)
In the final run-up to the midnight deadline, Canadian and U.S. trade negotiators reached agreement on the language for a NAFTA replacement. Canada agreed Sunday night to terms that will ensure its participation in a future North American trade agreement with the United States and Mexico.
Dubbed USMCA (U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement), U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland said in a joint statement that the deal “will give our workers, farmers, ranchers and businesses a high-standard trade agreement that will result in freer markets, fairer trade and robust economic growth in our region.” For more info, please go to https://www.americanshipper.com/main/fullasd/canada-pulled-into-new-north-american-trade-pact-72617.aspx?utm_source=AS+Daily+Newsletter&utm_campaign=6cb7597863-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_10_01_05_10&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_485fa13138-6cb7597863-62946101
ILA locals overwhelmingly approve contract extension (From American Shipper)
The International Longshoremen’s Association said that members at ports from Maine to Texas on Thursday overwhelmingly approved a six-year extension of its contract with the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX).
The union said the deal will “bring generous pay increases, landmark protections against job-killing fully automated ports and labor peace and stability through September 30, 2024.” The union says the deal will “bring generous pay increases, landmark protections against job-killing fully automated ports and labor peace and stability.” For more info, please go to https://www.americanshipper.com/main/fullasd/ila-locals-overwhelmingly-approve-contract-extension-72465.aspx?utm_source=AS+Daily+Newsletter&utm_campaign=16cb4b94d6-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_09_07_05_04&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_485fa13138-16cb4b94d6-62946101
Food Facility Re-registration Period Opens Oct. 1 (From Sandler Travis)
Food facilities required to register with the Food and Drug Administration must renew their registrations between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31. Food being imported or offered for import into the U.S. from a foreign facility for which registration has not been submitted or renewed must be held at the port of entry for and may not be delivered to the importer, owner, or consignee until the foreign facility is registered. Failure to register or renew a registration can also expose facilities to civil or criminal action.
Under section 102 of the Food Safety Modernization Act, all domestic and foreign facilities that manufacture, process, pack, or store food, food ingredients, pet foods, or dietary supplements are required to renew their registration with the FDA every even-numbered year. When registering, foreign food facilities must also designate a U.S. agent, a person or entity that is located within, or maintains an office in, the United States and acts as the domestic representative for the foreign facility through which all communication with the FDA takes place.
Facilities can register online, via mail, or by fax (though FDA encourages online registration) or may authorize third parties to register for them. For more info, please go to
https://www.strtrade.com/news-publications-food-import-facility-registration-period-open-100118.html?mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiT1RObU56QTFZVGcwWTJNNCIsInQiOiJsVGExY2VVTlBhcUhxcmZEUjY1UVlHd0U4UnRpTXMwWkhvWklWc3ltb1VRcUVKWm5rM3ZjTk85bnNxNGRlUm5FZ29VaG1KTW5hQ3FMTUhYamtKOEdnQXBRUGZaUDJkcThNN1JBRDlabldvVmkzb2FTSzRkUnNxcnhKWkpNVmNtKyJ9
Ed. note: LHCB can not be your U.S. agent. We recommend both Sandler Travis at
and Registrar Corp at www.registrarcorp.com/livehelp
Customs modernizing de minimis (From American Shipper)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection plans to roll out entry type 86 in the Automated Broker Interface (ABI) for de minimis shipments involving partner government agencies (PGAs) in early 2019. CBP Executive Director for Trade Policy and Programs, John Leonard, said September 11, during the agency’s 2018 Trade Symposium in Atlanta, that an official announcement is planned for late this fall. “This vehicle would allow for an ABI … transaction that would give us certain information on a small package-type of shipment,” he said. “Of course, it’s de minimis, [Section] 321, so it’s no duties, no fees, no bond required. Like most of the prototypes that we work on, we will take baby steps. We will test this first, implement and amend.” For more info, please go to
Passage of STOP Act Will Require Advance Data for International Mail Shipments (From NCBFAA)
On October 3, the Senate approved by a vote of 98-1 comprehensive legislation to address the opioid crisis, sending the package to the White House for signature.
Included in the bill is the STOP Act, which:
- Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to prescribe regulations requiring the US Postal Service to transmit advance electronic information to CBP for international mail shipments comparable to information required for non-mail cargo.
- Not later than December 31, 2018, the Postal Service must transmit the data for 70% of shipments (100% of mail shipments from China).
- If this requirement is not met, the Comptroller General must submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees by June 30, 2019, assessing the reasons for the failure and making recommendations for improving the collection of information by the Postal Service.
- After December 31, 2020, the Postmaster (in consultation with CBP) shall refuse any shipments for which the required information is not transmitted.
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