Maher Terminal Holiday Schedule
The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that revoking the existing antidumping and countervailing duty orders on coated paper suitable for high-quality print graphics using sheet-fed presses from China and Indonesia would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time.
As a result of the Commission’s affirmative determinations, the existing antidumping and countervailing duty orders on imports of these products from China and Indonesia will remain in place.
All six Commissioners voted in the affirmative.
Today’s action comes under the five-year (sunset) review process required by the Uruguay Round Agreements Act. See the attached page for background on these five-year (sunset) reviews.
The Commission’s public report Coated Paper Suitable for High-Quality Print Graphics Using Sheet-Fed Presses from China and Indonesia, Inv. Nos. 701-TA-470-471 and 731-TA-1169-1170 (Review), USITC Publication 4656, December 2016) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the reviews.
The report will be available by January 10, 2017; when available, it may be accessed on the USITC website at: http://pubapps.usitc.gov/applications/publogs/qry_publication_loglist.asp.
‘Tis the Season to Decorate Safely - U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Washington, DC — During November and December 2015, there were six fatalities and an estimated 14,000 injuries treated in hospital ERs nationwide, due to holiday decorations. That’s an average of about 230 injuries per day during the holiday season!
Falls, lacerations, back strains and ingestion of foreign objects were among the top holiday decorating-related injuries last season. To prevent decorating disasters, CPSC counts down the 12 Ways to Celebrate Safely:
12. Take special care with sharp, weighted, or breakable decorations. Lacerations were among the top reported decoration–related injuries last year.
11. Avoid trimmings that resemble food or candy that may tempt a child to mouth or swallow them.
10. Place decorations with small removable parts that can pose a choking hazard to young children out of reach.
9. Purchase only holiday light sets that bear the marking of a safety testing laboratory.
8. Examine new and old light sets for damage. Discard sets with cracked or broken sockets, frayed or exposed wires, and loose connections.
7. Keep burning candles in sight and away from places where kids and pets can knock them over.
Between 2010 and 2012, candles were the source of an estimated 6,500 residential fires annually, causing 80 deaths, 650 injuries, and $237 million in property loss per year.
6. Place lighted candles away from items that can catch fire, such as trees, other evergreens, decorations, curtains and furniture.
5. Look for a label that reads “fire resistant” when purchasing an artificial tree. Check live trees for freshness—here’s how.
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CBP Launches Online Portal for Filing Enforce and Protect Act Allegations - U.S, Customs & Border Protection
WASHINGTON — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced the launch of an online portal for parties to submit Enforce and Protect Act (EAPA) allegations on cbp.gov. The new portal will make it easier and more efficient for members of the trade community and federal government agencies to submit allegations regarding evasion of antidumping or contervailing duties against U.S. importers.
“We’ve established a website in order to get information and resources to the trade in a timely method as we are implementing this new proceeding, said Commissioner Kerlikowske at last week’s heavily attended East Coast Trade Symposium. Today, I can announce that parties may now file EAPA allegations electronically via our e-allegations web portal on cbp.gov.”
In August, CBP published an Interim Final Rule in the Federal Register to provide guidance for filing allegations of evasion of antidumping and countervailing duty orders, in accordance with Title IV of the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015, commonly referred to as EAPA.
Members of the trade community and federal government agencies may, as of December 1, begin submitting EAPA allegations via CBP’s revised online e-Allegation web portal. All EAPA allegations will be required to be submitted via the web portal starting December 15.
OTEXA: Announcements - Office of Textile and Apparel
12/06/2016 – October 2016 Textile and Apparel Import Report
ICE Returns 23 Pre-Columbian Artifacts to Dominican Republic - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Twenty-three pre-Columbian Taino cultural artifacts illegally imported to the United States were returned to the Dominican Republic Dec. 6, during a repatriation ceremony spearheaded by Ambassador James W. Brewster. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), working jointly with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in San Juan, conducted the investigation that led to the seizure and subsequent return of the cultural pieces.
The 23 pre-Columbian artifacts were presented at the headquarters of the Ministry of Culture in Dominican Republic during an activity chaired by the United States ambassador, the Minister of Culture Pedro Vergés Cimán and the HSI Special Agent in Charge in Charge in Puerto Rico, Ricardo Mayoral.
“The Taino pieces we have here are testament to the rich heritage of this nation and its indigenous roots,” said Ambassador Brewster. “The repatriation of these artifacts guarantees that Dominicans will be able to observe and learn from the traditions of their ancestors.”
“Today, after several years since its seizure in Puerto Rico in 2008 and 2010, we are returning to its rightful owner, the Dominican Republic, 23 pre-Columbian pieces that were transported to Puerto Rico through the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport and private mail services from the Dominican Republic,” said Ricardo Mayoral, special agent in charge of HSI San Juan.
Among the repatriated pieces are a vessel dating from 1200 to 1450, petaloid axes, a chisel, a petaloid wedge and a cone beater, among others.
HSI plays a leading role in criminal investigations that involve the illicit importation and distribution of cultural property, as well as the illegal trafficking of artwork, specializing in recovering works that have been reported lost or stolen. HSI’s International Operations, through its 69attaché offices in 47 countries, works closely with foreign governments to conduct joint investigations.
HSI’s specially trained investigators assigned to both, domestic and international offices, partner with governments, agencies and experts to protect cultural antiquities. They also train investigators from other nations and agencies to investigate crimes involving stolen property and art, and how to best enforce the law to recover these items when they emerge in the marketplace. Those involved in the illicit trafficking of cultural property, art and antiquities can face prison terms of up to 20 years, fines and possible restitution to purchasers of the items.
Since 2007, HSI has repatriated more than 8,000 items to more than 30 countries.
FTC Providing Over $88 Million in Refunds to AT&T Customers Who Were Subjected to Mobile Cramming - Federal Trade Commission
The Federal Trade Commission is providing over $88 million in refunds to more than 2.7 million AT&T customers who had third-party charges added to their mobile bills without their consent, a tactic known as “mobile cramming.” The refunds to consumers relate to 2014 settlements with AT&T, and the companies behind two of the cramming schemes, Tatto and Acquinity.
The refunds represent the most money ever returned to consumers in a mobile cramming case. Through the FTC’s refund program, nearly 2.5 million current AT&T customers will receive a credit on their bill within the next 75 days, and more than 300,000 former customers will receive a check. The average refund amount is $31.
“AT&T received a high volume of complaints related to mobile cramming prior to the FTC and other federal and state agencies stepping in on consumers’ behalf,” said FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez. “I am pleased that consumers are now being refunded their money and that AT&T has changed its mobile billing practices.”
According to the FTC’s complaint, AT&T placed unauthorized third-party charges on its customers’ phone bills, usually in amounts of $9.99 per month, for ringtones and text message subscriptions containing love tips, horoscopes, and “fun facts.” The FTC alleged that AT&T kept at least 35 percent of the charges it imposed on its customers.
As part of the settlement, which also involved all 50 states and the District of Columbia, as well as the Federal Communications Commission, AT&T agreed to pay $80 million for refunds and notify current customers who were billed for unauthorized third-party charges of the refund program. Under the settlement, the company also significantly changed its process for third-party billing.
Epiq Systems, the refund administrator for the refund program, will begin mailing refund checks and applying credits to AT&T phone bills starting today. Refunds are being issued in the wake of consumers filing their claims for redress with the FTC, and following a claim registration confirmation and audit process. The checks must be cashed within 60 days or they will become void.
The FTC never requires consumers to pay money or provide account information to cash refund checks. The FTC consumer redress hotline for consumers that have questions about the process is: 1-877-819-9692.
The FTC also has a new consumer blog that describes how the refund process was developed and implemented.
CBP Seizes $13K in Unreported Currency at Washington Dulles International Airport - U.S. Customs & Border Protection
STERLING, Va. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Office of Field Operations (OFO), at Washington Dulles International Airport seized over $13,000 from an Ethiopian bound U.S. citizen on Tuesday for violating federal currency reporting regulations.
There is no limit to how much currency travelers can import or export; however, federal law requires travelers to report to CBP amounts exceeding $10,000 in U.S. dollars or equivalent foreign currency.
During an outbound inspection, the man declared, both verbally and in writing, to CBP officers that he possessed $5,000; however, CBP officers discovered a total of $13,294 on his person and in his luggage. The officers seized the $13,294, returning the equivalent of $424 in foreign and U.S. currency for humanitarian relief, and advised him how to petition for the return of the currency. The traveler was then released to continue his journey.
“Customs and Border Protection officers afforded the traveler multiple opportunities to truthfully report his currency, and he chose not do to so. Travelers who refuse to comply with federal currency reporting requirements risk severe consequences, including currency seizure and potential criminal charges,” said Wayne Biondi, CBP Area Port Director for the Port of Washington Dulles. “The easiest way for travelers to hold on to their currency is to truthfully report it all to a CBP officer during inspection.”
The Privacy Act prohibits releasing the traveler’s name since he was not criminally charged.
CBP routinely conducts inspection operations on arriving and departing international flights and intercepts narcotics, weapons, currency, prohibited agriculture products, and other illicit items. On a typical day during 2015, CBP seized $356,396 in undeclared or illicit currency at our nation’s 328 ports of entry. View CBP Snapshot to learn what else CBP achieved ‘On a Typical Day’ last year.
Learn more about how CBP's Office of Field Operations secures our borders at our nation’s Ports of Entry.
CBP’s Travel section offers rules and tips for clearing CBP inspection during travel to and from the U.S.