Terminals Closed on Monday, September 1, 2014
Port of New York & New Jersey / http://www.panynj.gov/
Please be advised, all terminals in the Port of NY/NJ will be closed on Monday, September 1 in observance of the Labor Day holiday.
USITC Begins Process to Incorporate Global Import Category Changes into U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule
U.S. International Trade Commission / http://www.usitc.gov/press_room/news_release/2014/er0821mm1.htm
Changes Affect 234 Product Categories; Importers Can Review, Prepare to Participate
International customs officials at the World Customs Organization (WCO) have agreed on 234 changes to the global system that categorizes products that are imported and exported around the world, and countries are beginning their individual processes to incorporate those changes into their own domestic product category systems.
The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) is the federal agency charged with maintaining and updating the United States' product category system, the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS). The USITC today instituted an investigation that will lead to recommendations to the President on necessary modifications to the U.S. HTS.
The U.S. and other countries have until January 1, 2017, to incorporate the changes, but much work lies ahead, according to Jim Holbein, director of the USITC office that maintains the HTS.
"The first step for importers and exporters is to become aware of the changes being made at the international level," Holbein said. "If they believe they will be affected, they will want to stay on top of the process as it moves forward."
The USITC has posted the WCO document outlining the changes on its website at: http://www.usitc.gov/tariff_affairs/WCORecommendationofJune272014.pdf.
USITC nomenclature analysts are analyzing the WCO document, and the Commission expects to issue proposed recommendations on changes to the HTS in December 2014. At that time, the USITC will seek public comments on the proposed recommendations. Detailed information on how to submit comments and related deadlines will be provided at that time.
The USITC will consider all public comments, as well as comments from other U.S. agencies, in making its recommendations. The recommendations will be submitted to the President (through the U.S. Trade Representative) by July 2015. Following expiration of a 60-day layover period before the Congress, the President may proclaim the modifications to the HTS.
More information about the USITC investigation can be found in the notice of investigation dated August 20, 2014.
5 Defendants Plead Guilty to Smuggling Aluminum Extrusions
U.S. Customs & Border Protection/ http://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/local-media-release/2014-08-22-000000/5-defendants-plead-guilty-smuggling-aluminum
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - Five defendants plead guilty Monday in Federal District court, to charges of conspiracy to smuggle aluminum extrusions into the United States, with the intent to avoid paying antidumping and countervailing duties.
Samuel García-Adarme, Edrick García-Vázquez, Armando García-Vázquez, Carlos Minguela and PRP Trading Corporation, plead guilty before US District Court Judge Francisco Besosa, after reaching a plea agreement with Assistant US Attorney Scott Anderson. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 17, 2014.
The defendants were indicted by a grand jury after an investigation conducted by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Import Specialist Branch. According to the indictment, the defendants knowingly and willfully combined, conspired, confederated, and agreed with each other to smuggle and clandestinely introduce, or attempt to smuggle or clandestinely introduce, merchandise imported from China, to wit: aluminum, by passing false and fraudulent invoices and documents through the San Juan CBP customhouse with the intent to defraud the United States in lawful antidumping and countervailing (ADD/CVD) duties accruing upon said merchandise.
The object of the conspiracy was that defendants Samuel García-Adarme, Edrick García-Vázquez, Armando García-Vázquez and Carlos Minguela-Ortiz, owners and/or principals of Sultana Screens & Aluminum Sales, PRP Trading, and Aluwest Industries, with the assistance of William Tang Piu Wong, would purchase aluminum from China, transship the aluminum to Malaysia, repackage the aluminum and create false invoices to make it appear as though the aluminum originated in Malaysia, and then import the aluminum into Puerto Rico in order to avoid payment of the antidumping and countervailing duties (ADD/CVD).
“US Customs and Border Protection is responsible for enforcing the antidumping and countervailing duties (AD/CVD) law and collecting the ADD/CVD duties assessed against applicable imports. Importers who willfully circumvent the provisions of the ADD/CVD law through illegal transshipment, undervaluation or misclassification of merchandise in order to avoid paying these duties will be identified and investigated,” said Marcelino Borges, Director of Field Operations for Puerto Rico and the USVI. “Our officers and trade experts remain vigilant to detect these violators and enforce all trade related laws.”
“The ICE-HSI Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Duties (ADD/CVD) Program is one way that HSI protects U.S. businesses from fraudulent trade practices. ADD/CVD orders are issued by the Department of Commerce (DOC) and collected and distributed by CBP. Antidumping duties are assessed when importers sell merchandise at less than fair market value, which causes material injury to a domestic industry producing a comparable product. The United States can also impose countervailing duties to offset foreign government subsidy payments on exports of foreign businesses. Duties are imposed to offset the dumping or subsidies provided by the foreign country in order to maintain the competitiveness of United States industry and to foster a level business playing field,” said Ángel Meléndez, special agent in charge of HSI San Juan. “HSI is responsible for investigating importers who evade the payment of ADD/CVD on imported merchandise. ADD/CVD cases are long-term, transnational investigations that require significant coordination between domestic and international offices and with our foreign law enforcement counterparts.
ADD and CVD are additional duties imposed on goods entering into U.S. commerce for consumption as a prerogative of the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) to avoid imported merchandise being sold below fair market value.
Since November 2010, the Department of Commerce imposed antidumping and countervailing duties on Chinese-origin aluminum, which ranged from 30 - 33% of the declared value of the imported aluminum, and 374.15% of the declared value of the imported aluminum, respectively.
For CBP AD/CVD Priority Trade Issue with the goal of detecting and deterring the circumvention of the AD/CVD law, to liquidate final duties timely and accurately, while at the same time facilitating legitimate trade.
FTC Warns Against Government Imposter Scams
Federal Trade Commission / http://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2014/08/ftc-warns-against-government-imposter-scams
Can you spot a government imposter?
Even if your phone’s caller ID says “FTC” or “IRS,” or shows Washington, DC’s “202” area code, it could still be a scam. Scammers know how to show fake information on caller ID.
The Federal Trade Commission is warning consumers about scammers who pretend they’re with the government to scare you into sending money. They say you owe taxes or some other debt, and tell you to put money on a prepaid debit card and tell them the number — something no government agency would ask you to do.
Others say you’ve won big money in a sweepstakes the FTC or some other agency is supervising, and that the money will be yours when you pay for shipping, taxes, or some other expense. But it’s just phony baloney. Federal government agencies will never ask you to send money for prizes.
To learn more about how these scams work and how to avoid them, read the FTC’s consumer blog post Can you spot a government imposter? and Government Imposter Scams.
The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC’s online Complaint Assistant or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 2,000 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. The FTC’s website provides free information on a variety of consumer topics. Like the FTC on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and subscribe to press releases for the latest FTC news and resources.
LONG BEACH, Calif., Aug. 28, 2014 – PierPass Inc. today announced that its OffPeak program has reached a major milestone, diverting its 30 millionth truck trip from weekday, daytime traffic in Los Angeles and Long Beach since the program began in July 2005. OffPeak has greatly eased congestion on city streets and nearby freeways, and reduced emissions from trucks idling outside of terminals and in traffic.
On an average OffPeak weeknight, 17,000 trucks visit the marine container terminals at the Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach. If all of these trucks were lined up bumper-to-bumper, they would form a line 170 miles long, half the distance from Los Angeles to San Jose. Without the OffPeak program, this cargo would be crammed into a single day shift, more than doubling daytime volumes and causing major congestion.
Continue Reading
DHS Achieves Trusted Traveler Program Milestones
U.S. Department of Homeland Security / http://www.dhs.gov/news/2014/08/26/dhs-achieves-trusted-traveler-program-milestones
CBP and TSA continue to expand enrollment in trusted traveler programs
WASHINGTON - The Department of Homeland Security recently achieved two major milestones for its trusted traveler programs. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Pre✓™ application program, which began in December 2013, has now enrolled more than half a million travelers. Additionally, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has enrolled more than three million users in their trusted traveler programs: Global Entry, NEXUS and SENTRI. Together, all of these DHS trusted traveler programs provide an improved passenger experience, while enhancing security and increasing system-wide efficiencies.
“These programs enable us to facilitate and expedite travel to, from, and within the United States, while maintaining the highest standards of security,” said Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas. “We will continue to work to improve the passenger experience for millions of travelers who go through our airports every day, in a manner that is efficient, effective and secure.”
TSA Pre✓™ allows low-risk travelers to experience faster, more efficient screening at 118 U.S. airports nationwide currently. TSA Pre✓™ is an expedited screening program that allows pre-approved airline travelers to leave on their shoes, light outerwear and belt, keep their laptop in its case and their 3-1-1 compliant liquids/gels bag in a carry-on in select screening lanes.
The TSA Pre✓™ application program allows U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents to directly enroll in TSA Pre✓™. Once approved, travelers will receive a “Known Traveler Number” and will have the opportunity to utilize TSA Pre✓™ lanes at select security checkpoints when flying on a participating carrier: Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, Sun Country Airlines, United Airlines, US Airways and Virgin America.
Upon arrival in the United States from abroad, Global Entry members are able to bypass the traditional CBP inspection lines and use an automated kiosk. With more than 70,000 new applicants each month, travelers enrolled in this program can scan their passport and fingerprints, answer the customs declaration questions using the kiosk’s touch screen and proceed with a receipt— the whole process only takes about one minute. Launched in 2008, as a pilot program, Global Entry is now a permanent program and has 51 locations in the United States and at CBP Preclearance stations in Canada. These locations serve 99 percent of incoming travelers to the United States.
The NEXUS program allows pre-screened travelers expedited processing by United States and Canadian officials at dedicated processing lanes at designated northern border ports of entry, at Canadian airports, and at marine reporting locations. NEXUS members are automatically eligible to use Global Entry kiosks when entering the U.S. The SENTRI program also provides expedited processing through CBP at Southwest border crossings.
Additionally, in partnership with TSA, many CBP Trusted Traveler program members are pre-eligible to participate in TSA Pre✓™. These participants do not need to apply separately for TSA Pre✓™, as they will receive their Known Traveler Number once successfully enrolled in a CBP trusted traveler program.