Long Beach Cargo Continues Rebound
Port of Long Beach / http://www.polb.com/news/displaynews.asp?NewsID=1447&TargetID=1
Strongest April for Port since 2006
Container cargo flow through the Port of Long Beach increased 7.9 percent in April compared to the same month last year, leading to the busiest April in nine years.
A total of 614,860 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of containerized cargo were moved through the Port in April. Imports reached 317,376 TEUs, a 7.3 percent increase from last year. Exports fell 6.1 percent to 137,546 TEUs. Empty containers surged 25.3 percent to 159,938 TEUs. With imports exceeding exports, empty containers are sent overseas to be refilled with goods.
In April, the terminals were also working through the backlog left over from the winter’s congestion in San Pedro Bay. By the end of the month, no more container ships were waiting at anchor to come into the Port of Long Beach. To see the latest on cargo ship tracking at the Port of Long Beach, please see our “Vessels at a Glance” webpage.
Through the first four months of 2015, Long Beach cargo numbers are essentially flat compared to the same period last year, down 0.3 percent overall.
With an ongoing $4 billion program to modernize its facilities, the Port of Long Beach continues to invest in long-term, environmentally sustainable growth.
U.S. Services Providers Remain Competitive in the Global Services Market, Reports USITC
US International Trade Commission / http://usitc.gov/press_room/news_release/2015/er0518ll453.htm
The United States is the world's largest services market and was the world’s leading exporter and importer of services in 2013, reports the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) in its new publication Recent Trends in U.S. Services Trade, 2015 Annual Report.
The USITC, an independent, nonpartisan, factfinding federal agency, compiles the report annually. Each year's report presents a qualitative and quantitative overview of U.S. trade in services and highlights some of the service sectors and geographic markets that contribute substantially to recent services trade performance.
This year’s report focuses on distribution services and includes chapters on three specific industries: logistics services, maritime transport services, and retail services. Each chapter analyzes global market conditions in the industry, examines recent trade performance, and summarizes the industry’s outlook.
The report describes trade in services and its two main components -- cross-border transactions and affiliate sales. Highlights include:
- In 2013, the value of U.S. commercial services exports was $662.0 billion (14 percent of global services exports), while imports totaled $431.5 billion (10 percent of global services imports). Preliminary data for 2014 indicate that U.S. commercial services exports exceeded those in 2013 by 3.4 percent, or $22.7 billion, whereas U.S. imports were 4.1 percent higher ($7.7 billion) in 2014 than in 2013.
- From 2012 to 2013, U.S. cross-border services exports rose 5.1 percent (up from 5 percent in 2012), while U.S. services imports grew 3 percent (down from 4.5 percent in 2012). Distribution services accounted for 7 percent of exports and 14 percent of imports, resulting in a trade deficit of $13.6 billion in this subsector in 2013.
- Within the services sector, sales by foreign affiliates of U.S. firms -- the leading channel by which many U.S. services are delivered to foreign markets -- rose by 3.7 percent to almost $1.3 trillion in 2012. In 2012, top markets for sales by U.S.-owned affiliates were the United Kingdom (15 percent), Canada (10 percent), and Japan and Ireland (6 percent each). Distribution services accounted for 399.1 billion, or 31 percent, of the total.
- In 2013, private sector distribution services contributed $2.3 trillion to U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) and accounted for nearly 17 percent of total U.S. private sector GDP. The output of these services grew by 1.7 percent in 2013, slightly slower than the GDP growth in the private sector (2.2 percent). Among the distribution services industries, the GDP of maritime transport services grew the fastest in 2013 at 9.4 percent, followed by retail trade (2.4 percent), wholesale trade (1.6 percent), and logistics services (0.8 percent).
- The distribution services sector was one of the most important contributors to U.S. private sector employment in 2013. Overall, distribution services accounted for more than 21 percent of total private sector employment, or 23 million full-time equivalent (FTE) employees -- a share that has remained stable since 2008. Employment in retail services represented 57 percent of this total, followed by wholesale services (24 percent), logistics services (18 percent), and maritime transport services (0.3 percent). Labor productivity in distribution services grew at a steady, but modest pace during 2008–13, with an average output per worker of $98,370 in 2013.
- Since trade in distribution services is driven by consumer demand, fluctuations in income and consumer spending can have profound effects on the health of the industry. The global economic recession of 2008–09 caused revenue declines for the majority of distribution providers. Further, as global economies become more integrated, the distribution services industry has needed to evolve rapidly to address issues such as shifting global supply chains (i.e., “near-shoring”), advances in digital technology (i.e., e-commerce), and rising cost competition across all factors of production and distribution (i.e., transport and inventory costs). Most notably, technology has increasingly enabled manufacturers to bypass traditional wholesalers and retailers. Consequently, distribution services suppliers have grown more adaptive as supply chains compress and the use of Internet technologies to purchase goods increases.
- The USITC hosted its eighth annual services roundtable on October 16, 2014. The discussion, summarized in the report, focused on services trade in sub-Saharan Africa, ongoing international trade in services negotiations, and the assessment of services commitments.
Recent Trends in U.S. Services Trade, 2015 Annual Report (Investigation No. 332-345, USITC publication 4526, May 2015) is available on the USITC's Internet site at http://www.usitc.gov/publications/332/pub4526.pdf.
USITC Releases Sixth Annual Report on U.S. Textile and Apparel Imports from China
U.S. International Trade Commission / http://www.usitc.gov/press_room/news_release/2015/er0515ll452.htm
The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) today released its annual compilation of reports published every two weeks on textile and apparel imports from China.
The report, Textile and Apparel Imports from China: Statistical Reports, Annual Compilation 2014, was requested by the U.S. House of Representatives' Committee on Ways and Means.
As requested, the USITC, an independent, nonpartisan, factfinding federal agency, produced an annual compilation of data that has been posted on a bi-weekly basis on the USITC website. The data in the report are shown on an annual and quarterly basis, by category and by Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) 10-digit subheadings.
By category, annual data are provided from 2008 through 2014, and quarterly data are provided from first quarter 2013 through fourth quarter 2014. By HTS10 subheading, annual data are provided from 2012 through 2014, and quarterly data are provided from first quarter 2013 through fourth quarter 2014.
Textile and Apparel Imports from China: Statistical Reports, Annual Compilation 2014 (Inv. No. 332-501, USITC publication 4535, May 2015) is available on the USITC's Internet site at http://www.usitc.gov/publications/332/pub4535.pdf.
USITC general factfinding investigations, such as this one, cover matters related to tariffs or trade and are generally conducted at the request of the U.S. Trade Representative, the House Committee on Ways and Means, or the Senate Committee on Finance. The resulting reports convey the Commission's objective findings and independent analyses on the subjects investigated. The Commission makes no recommendations on policy or other matters in its general factfinding reports. Upon completion of each investigation, the USITC submits its findings and analyses to the requester. General factfinding investigation reports are subsequently released to the public unless they are classified by the requester for national security reasons.
53-Foot Domestic Dry Containers from China Do Not Materially Retard U.S. Industry, Says USITC
U.S. International Trade Commission / http://usitc.gov/press_room/news_release/2015/er0519ll455.htm
The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that the establishment of a U.S. industry is not materially retarded by reason of imports of 53-foot domestic dry containers from China that the U.S. Department of Commerce has determined are subsidized and sold in the United States at less than fair value.
Chairman Meredith M. Broadbent, Vice Chairman Dean A. Pinkert, and Commissioners Irving A. Williamson, David S. Johanson, and Rhonda K. Schmidtlein voted in the negative. Commissioner F. Scott Kieff did not participate in the final phase of these investigations.
As a result of the USITC’s negative determinations, no antidumping or countervailing duty orders will be issued on imports of these products from China.
The Commission’s public report 53-Foot Domestic Dry Containers from China (Investigation Nos. 701-TA-514 and 731-TA-1250 (Final), USITC Publication 4537, June 2015) will contain the views of the Commissioners and information developed during the investigations.
The report will be available by June 22, 2015; when available, it may be accessed on the USITC website at: http://pubapps.usitc.gov/applications/publogs/qry_publication_loglist.asp.
Honoring Military Working Dogs This Armed Forces Day
ASPCA / www.aspca.com
This Saturday marks Armed Forces Day, a special day to celebrate Americans serving across our five U.S. military branches including the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard. This year, as we honor the brave service men and women who defend our country, please take a moment to recognize the four-legged heroes who also serve on the frontline for America every day.
Military Working Dogs, or MWDs, play a critical role in our nation’s defense and are crucial to the safety of our service members. The military estimates that the average MWD saves between 150-200 lives during his or her career. These amazing dogs work tirelessly to keep us safe, successfully performing important and dangerous duties that can be difficult—if not impossible—for people, all while providing unconditional love and loyalty to the men and women who work alongside them.
In recognition of these heroic animals’ unwavering service to our country, we believe that our government’s commitment to their wellbeing must extend beyond the period of military service.
In late 2012, Congress took action in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), an annual military policy bill, to better protect retired military dogs by streamlining the adoption process and authorizing a system of veterinary care for retired animals.
This year’s NDAA seeks to build upon the 2012 law to improve life after service for military dogs. The U.S. House of Representatives’ Armed Services Committee included a provision in this year’s bill to require the military to bring home retired dogs serving overseas and to ease the adoption process for handlers who choose to adopt. These changes will strengthen the bond between dog and handler and ensure that these canine heroes can begin their new lives in loving, secure environments.
We are grateful to Congress, the Department of Defense and the U.S. Air Force, which administers the Military Working Dog Program, for recognizing the importance of our service dogs and for their continued work to protect these canine heroes.
CBP Seizes Thousands of Counterfeit Auto Parts at Port Everglades
U.S. Customs & Border Protection / http://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/local-media-release/2015-05-15-000000/cbp-seizes-thousands-counterfeit-auto-parts-port
MIAMI - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers and import specialists seized more than 3,260 counterfeit automobile parts during an inspection at Port Everglades on May 8. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price of the counterfeit products is around $280,000.
CBP, along with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), targeted the shipment as part of a joint multi-layered enforcement operation focused on interdicting illegal counterfeit automotive parts.
The seizure included over 180 different types of vehicle parts ranging from small fuses to front ends.
Counterfeit automotive parts are a safety risk as they are of inferior quality compared to the authentic product and their failure to perform to standard could cause safety issues resulting in catastrophic failure.
“Close collaboration and strong partnerships at the seaport built into an aggressive enforcement program bring about results,” said Port Everglades CBP Port Director Jorge Roig. “It’s a safety concern and we’ll continue to selectively target imported goods for intellectual property rights violations.”
CBP uses technology to increase interdiction of fake goods, facilitate partnerships with industry, and enhance enforcement efforts through the sharing of information and intelligence. CBP is refining its technology to more accurately identify suspected shipments of counterfeit and pirated goods for inspection.
To protect both private industry and consumers, CBP has made Intellectual Property Rights enforcement a priority trade issue. In addition to seizing goods at U.S. borders, the strategy includes expanding the border through post-import audits of companies that have been caught bringing fake goods into the U.S., collaboration with our trading partners, and partnering with industry and other federal agencies to enhance these efforts. CBP also issues civil fines and, where appropriate, refers cases to other law enforcement agencies for criminal investigation.
In fiscal year 2014, there were 23,140 intellectual property rights seizures with an estimated manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $1.2 billion had the goods been genuine.
Federal Judge Orders Zen Magnets to Stop Selling Dangerous Recalled Magnets
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission / http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Newsroom/News-Releases/2015/Federal-Judge-Orders-Zen-Magnets-to-Stop-Selling-Dangerous-Recalled-Magnets/
WASHINGTON, D.C. – A federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction against Zen Magnets, of Denver, Colo., ordering the firm to stop selling recalled and dangerous high-powered magnets.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed suit against Zen Magnets and its owner Shihan Qu on May 5, 2015. The government alleged that Mr. Qu bought 917,000 magnets from Star Networks shortly before Star Networks recalled the magnets and then sold those magnets after they were recalled. Sale of recalled products is illegal.
The ruling, which applies to the recalled magnets and magnets Zen commingled with them, stated that Zen Magnets “has essentially turned its pledge to continue to defy the CPSC into a marketing campaign” and has “openly vowed” not to stop selling the recalled magnets absent an injunction. Finding a substantial likelihood that Zen Magnets had violated the Consumer Product Safety Act, which prohibits the sale of recalled products, the court issued an injunction.
“The Court’s order to stop the ongoing sale of these recalled high-powered magnets is a big victory for the safety of children,” said CPSC Chairman Elliot F. Kaye. “Along with the U.S. Department of Justice, we will continue to move aggressively to enforce the law and protect consumers from the sale of recalled products, especially those that put children at risk.”
“The Justice Department will continue to work with the Consumer Product Safety Commission to enforce our consumer protection laws and protect consumers from dangerous products,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Efforts to evade the law and sell products that have already been recalled will not be tolerated.”
The ruling was handed down by federal judge Christine M. Arguello in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado.
CPSC adopted a rule that went into effect April 1, but was temporarily stayed until April 20, prohibiting the sale of magnets or magnet sets that are small enough to be swallowed and that have a high degree of magnetic attraction. In issuing that rule, the CPSC noted the risk of injury that the rule addresses. When a person ingests more than one magnet from a magnet set, there is damage to intestinal tissue, including tissue death. The magnets are attracted to each other in the digestive system, damaging the tissue that becomes trapped between the magnets. In many incidents, surgery has been required as the result of magnet ingestion.
High-powered magnet sets were found to be responsible for the death of a 19-month-old girl and, according to CPSC analysis, an estimated 2,900 emergency room-treated injuries between 2009 and 2013.