CBP Unified Business Resumption Messaging
U.S. Customs & Border Protection / www.cbp.gov
Unified Business Resumption Messaging service provides the trade and travel community instant alerts and up-to-date information if an event occurs that could delay the flow of trade through a Port of Entry. Find out what ports are affected, alternative routes, and projected disruption periods automatically.
See Latest Updates
U.S. Expands Iran Sanctions
Grunfeld, Desiderio, Lebowitz, Silverman & Klestadt LLP / http://www.gdlsk.com/home.html/
On August 10, 2012, President Obama signed the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012 (“ITRSHRA”) (H.R. 1905) into law in an effort to encourage Iran to abandon its nuclear weapons program. This legislation significantly expands the scope of existing Iran sanctions and closes loopholes by extending these restrictions to foreign entities that are majority owned or controlled by a U.S. person.
We have summarized the sections which may be of particular concern to our clients.
Read entire article at: http://www.gdlsk.com/knowledge/221-us-expands-iran-sanctions.html
Retailers Fear Port Strike Would Stall Holiday Shipments
Boston Herald / www.bostonherald.com
Read Article at: BostonHerald.com
What Consumers Need to Know About Food and Water Safety During Hurricanes, Power Outages, and Floods
U.S. Food & Drug Administration / http://www.fda.gov/Food/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/ucm076881.htm
Be Prepared for Emergencies
Make sure you have appliance thermometers in your refrigerator and freezer.
Check to ensure that the freezer temperature is at or below 0 °F and the refrigerator is at or below 40 °F.
In case of a power outage, the appliance thermometers will indicate the temperatures in the refrigerator and freezer to help you determine if the food is safe.
Freeze containers of water for ice to help keep food cold in the freezer, refrigerator, or coolers in case the power goes out. If your normal water supply is contaminated or unavailable, the melting ice will also supply drinking water.
Freeze refrigerated items such as leftovers, milk, and fresh meat and poultry that you may not need immediately. This helps keep them at a safe temperature longer.
Group food together in the freezer. This helps the food stay cold longer.
Have coolers on hand to keep refrigerated food cold if the power will be out for more than 4 hours.
Purchase or make ice cubes in advance and store in the freezer for use in the refrigerator or in a cooler. Freeze gel packs ahead of time for use in coolers.
Check out local sources to know where dry ice and block ice can be purchased, just in case.
Store food on shelves that will be safely out of the way of contaminated water in case of flooding.
Make sure to have a supply of bottled water stored where it will be as safe as possible from flooding.
Power Outages: During and After
When the Power Goes Out . . .
Here are basic tips for keeping food safe:
Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to maintain the cold temperature.
The refrigerator will keep food cold for about 4 hours if it is unopened.
A full freezer will keep the temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full) if the door remains closed.
Buy dry or block ice to keep the refrigerator as cold as possible if the power is going to be out for a prolonged period of time. Fifty pounds of dry ice should hold an 18-cubic foot fully-stocked freezer cold for two days.
If you plan to eat refrigerated or frozen meat, poultry, fish or eggs while it is still at safe temperatures, it's important that each item is thoroughly cooked to the proper temperature to assure that any foodborne bacteria that may be present is destroyed. However, if at any point the food was above 40 °F for 2 hours or more — discard it.
Wash fruits and vegetables with water from a safe source before eating.
For infants, try to use prepared, canned baby formula that requires no added water. When using concentrated or powdered formulas, prepare with bottled water if the local water source
is potentially contaminated.
Once Power is Restored . . .
You'll need to determine the safety of your food. Here's how:
If an appliance thermometer was kept in the freezer, check the temperature when the power comes back on. If the freezer thermometer reads 40°F or below, the food is safe and may be refrozen.
If a thermometer has not been kept in the freezer, check each package of food to determine its safety. You can't rely on appearance or odor. If the food still contains ice crystals or is 40 °F or below, it is safe to refreeze or cook.
Refrigerated food should be safe as long as the power was out for no more than 4 hours and the refrigerator door was kept shut. Discard any perishable food
(such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs or leftovers) that has been above 40°F for two hours or more.
Keep in mind that perishable food such as meat, poultry, seafood, milk, and eggs that are not kept adequately refrigerated or frozen may cause illness if consumed, even when they are thoroughly cooked.
When Flooding Occurs — Keep Water Safe
Follow these steps to keep your WATER SAFE during — and after — flood conditions.
Use bottled water that has not been exposed to flood waters if it is available.
If you don't have bottled water, you should boil water to make it safe. Boiling water will kill most types of disease-causing organisms that may be present.
If the water is cloudy, filter it through clean cloths or allow it to settle, and draw off the clear water for boiling.
Boil the water for one minute, let it cool, and store it in clean containers with covers.
If you can't boil water, you can disinfect it using household bleach. Bleach will kill some, but not all, types of disease-causing organisms that may be in the water.
If the water is cloudy, filter it through clean cloths or allow it to settle, and draw off the clear water for disinfection.
Add 1/8 teaspoon (or 8 drops) of regular, unscented, liquid household bleach per each gallon of water. Stir it well and let it stand for at least 30 minutes before you use it.
Store disinfected water in clean containers with covers.
If you have a well that has been
flooded, the water should be tested and disinfected after flood waters recede. If you suspect that your well may be contaminated, contact your local or state health department or agriculture extension agent for specific advice. '
When Flooding Occurs — Keep Food Safe
Follow these steps to keep your FOOD SAFE during — and after — flood conditions.
Do not eat any food that may have come into contact with flood water.
Discard any food that is not in a waterproof
container if there is any chance that it has come into contact with flood water.
if there is any chance that it has come into contact with flood water.
Food containers that are not waterproof include those with screw-caps, snap lids, pull tops, and crimped caps.
Also, discard cardboard juice/milk/baby formula boxes and home canned foods if they have come in contact with flood water, because they cannot be effectively cleaned and sanitized.
Inspect canned foods and discard any food in damaged cans. Can damage is shown by swelling, leakage, punctures, holes, fractures, extensive deep rusting, or crushing/denting severe enough to prevent normal stacking or opening with a manual, wheel-type can opener.
Undamaged, commercially prepared foods in all-metal cans and "retort pouches" (like flexible, shelf-stable juice or seafood pouches) can be saved if you follow this procedure:
Remove the labels, if they are the removable kind, since they can harbor dirt and bacteria.
Brush or wipe away any dirt or silt.
Thoroughly wash the cans or retort pouches with soap and water, using hot water if it is available. Rinse the cans or retort pouches with water that is safe for drinking, if available, since dirt or residual soap will reduce the effectiveness of chlorine sanitation.
Sanitize cans and retort pouches by immersion in one of the two following ways:
Place in water and allow the water to come to a boil and continue boiling for 2 min., or
Place in a freshly-made solution consisting of 1 tablespoon of unscented liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of drinking water (or the cleanest
, clearest water available) for 15 minutes.
Air dry cans or retort pouches for a minimum of 1 hour before opening or storing.
If the labels were removable, then re-label your cans or retort pouches, including the expiration date (if available), with a marking pen.
Food in reconditioned cans or retort pouches should be used as soon as possible thereafter.
Any concentrated baby formula in reconditioned, all-metal containers must be diluted with clean, drinking water.
Thoroughly wash metal pans, ceramic dishes, and utensils (including can openers) with soap and water, using hot water if available. Rinse, and then sanitize them by boiling in clean water or immersing them for 15 minutes in a solution of 1 tablespoon of unscented, liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of drinking water (or the cleanest, clearest water available).
Thoroughly wash countertops with soap and water, using hot water if available. Rinse, and then sanitize by applying a solution of 1 tablespoon of unscented, liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of drinking water (or the cleanest, clearest water available). Allow to air dry.
Operation Piping Hot: Protecting the U.S. Steel Industry from Illegal Foreign Competition
U.S. Customs & Border Protection / www.cbp.gov
Washington — Last week, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) executed Operation Piping Hot from August 21-24, targeting illegal importations of steel pipe and tubing in an effort to protect U.S. industry from unfair foreign competition.
During the operation, the CBP South Florida National Targeting and Analysis Group as well as the CBP Southwest Regional Science Center’s mobile laboratory unit teamed up with officials at the Port of Laredo to target suspect shipments of steel pipe and tubing for examination, conduct field tests, and collect samples for further analysis. These imports are being sold in the United States at artificially low prices that threaten domestic industry’s ability to sell locally produced steel pipe and tubing at a competitive price.
“This operation is an excellent example of CBP’s continued commitment to protect our domestic industries from unlawful business practices that endanger our economy,” said Allen Gina, Assistant Commissioner, Office of International Trade. “By leveraging CBP’s diverse resources, we quickly and efficiently examined shipments thereby facilitating the flow of legitimate goods through the Port of Laredo.”
CBP is charged with protecting U.S. industry from unlawful foreign competition and collecting all revenue due to the U.S. government that arises from the importation of goods. When a domestic industry is under threat from illegal foreign competition the Department of Commerce establishes an antidumping duty rate that CBP collects.
Operation Piping Hot is just one example of CBP’s ongoing efforts to pursue commercial enforcement actions against foreign companies that seek to harm domestic industry by evading antidumping duty payments. For additional information on CBP’s Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Duty efforts please visit. ( CBP.gov )
Obama Administration Finalizes Historic 54.5 mpg Fuel Efficiency Standards
Consumer Savings Comparable to Lowering Price of Gasoline by $1 Per Gallon by 2025
Department of Transportation / www.dot.gov
WASHINGTON, DC – The Obama Administration today finalized groundbreaking standards that will increase fuel economy to the equivalent of 54.5 mpg for cars and light-duty trucks by Model Year 2025. When combined with previous standards set by this Administration, this move will nearly double the fuel efficiency of those vehicles compared to new vehicles currently on our roads. In total, the Administration’s national program to improve fuel economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions will save consumers more than $1.7 trillion at the gas pump and reduce U.S. oil consumption by 12 billion barrels.
“These fuel standards represent the single most important step we’ve ever taken to reduce our dependence on foreign oil,” said President Obama. “This historic agreement builds on the progress we’ve already made to save families money at the pump and cut our oil consumption. By the middle of the next decade our cars will get nearly 55 miles per gallon, almost double what they get today. It’ll strengthen our nation's energy security, it's good for middle class families and it will help create an economy built to last.”
The historic standards issued today by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) build on the success of the Administration’s standards for cars and light trucks for Model Years 2011-2016. Those standards, which raised average fuel efficiency by 2016 to the equivalent of 35.5 mpg, are already saving families money at the pump.
Achieving the new fuel efficiency standards will encourage innovation and investment in advanced technologies that increase our economic competitiveness and support high-quality domestic jobs in the auto industry. The final standards were developed by DOT’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and EPA following extensive engagement with automakers, the United Auto Workers, consumer groups, environmental and energy experts, states, and the public. Last year, 13 major automakers, which together account for more than 90 percent of all vehicles sold in the United States, announced their support for the new standards. By aligning Federal and state requirements and providing manufacturers with long-term regulatory certainty and compliance flexibility, the standards encourage investments in clean, innovative technologies that will benefit families, promote U.S. leadership in the automotive sector, and curb pollution.
“Simply put, this groundbreaking program will result in vehicles that use less gas, travel farther, and provide more efficiency for consumers than ever before—all while protecting the air we breathe and giving automakers the regulatory certainty to build the cars of the future here in America,” said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “Today, automakers are seeing their more fuel-efficient vehicles climb in sales, while families already saving money under the Administration’s first fuel economy efforts will save even more in the future, making this announcement a victory for everyone.”
“The fuel efficiency standards the administration finalized today are another example of how we protect the environment and strengthen the economy at the same time,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “Innovation and economic growth are already reinvigorating the auto industry and the thousands of businesses that supply automakers as they create and produce the efficient vehicles of tomorrow. Clean, efficient vehicles are also cutting pollution and saving drivers money at the pump."
The Administration’s combined efforts represent the first meaningful update to fuel efficiency standards in decades. Together, they will save American families more than $1.7 trillion dollars in fuel costs, resulting in an average fuel savings of more than $8,000 by 2025 over the lifetime of the vehicle. For families purchasing a model Year 2025 vehicle, the net savings will be comparable to lowering the price of gasoline by approximately $1 per gallon. Additionally, these programs will dramatically reduce our reliance on foreign oil, saving a total of 12 billion barrels of oil and reducing oil consumption by more than 2 million barrels a day by 2025 – as much as half of the oil we import from OPEC each day.
The standards also represent historic progress to reduce carbon pollution and address climate change. Combined, the Administration’s standards will cut greenhouse gas emissions from cars and light trucks in half by 2025, reducing emissions by 6 billion metric tons over the life of the program – more than the total amount of carbon dioxide emitted by the United States in 2010.
President Obama announced the proposed standard in July 2011, joined by Ford, GM, Chrysler, BMW, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar/Land Rover, Kia, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Toyota, and Volvo, as well as the United Auto Workers. The State of California and other key stakeholders also supported the announcement and were integral in developing this national program.
In achieving these new standards, EPA and NHTSA expect automakers’ to use a range of efficient and advanced technologies to transform the vehicle fleet. The standards issued today provide for a mid-term evaluation to allow the agencies to review their effectiveness and make any needed adjustments.
Major auto manufacturers are already developing advanced technologies that can significantly reduce fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions beyond the existing model year 2012-2016 standards. In addition, a wide range of technologies are currently available for automakers to meet the new standards, including advanced gasoline engines and transmissions, vehicle weight reduction, lower tire rolling resistance, improvements in aerodynamics, diesel engines, more efficient accessories, and improvements in air conditioning systems. The program also includes targeted incentives to encourage early adoption and introduction into the marketplace of advanced technologies to dramatically improve vehicle performance, including:
Incentives for electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, and fuel cells vehicles;
Incentives for hybrid technologies for large pickups and for other technologies that achieve high fuel economy levels on large pickups;
Incentives for natural gas vehicles;
Credits for technologies with potential to achieve real-world greenhouse gas reductions and fuel economy improvements that are not captured by the standards
test procedures.
Special Import Quota Announcements for Upland Cotton
U.S. Customs & Borer Protection / www.cbp.gov
(08/28/2012)
Ann # Begin Date End Date TSUSA Quantity Buy Date
12 05/10/2012 11/05/2012 9903.52.12 14,594,057 08/07/2012
13 05/17/2012 11/12/2012 9903.52.13 14,594,057 08/14/2012
14 05/22/2012 11/19/2012 9903.52.14 14,594,057 08/21/2012
15 05/31/2012 11/26/2012 9903.52.15 14,594,057 08/28/2012
16 06/07/2012 12/03/2012 9903.52.16 15,091,522 09/04/2012
17 06/14/2012 12/10/2012 9903.52.17 15,091,522 09/11/2012
18 06/21/2012 12/17/2012 9903.52.18 14,096,929 09/18/2012
19 06/28/2012 12/24/2012 9903.52.19 14,096,929 09/25/2012
20 07/05/2012 12/31/2012 9903.52.20 14,096,929 10/02/2012
21 07/12/2012 01/07/2013 9903.52.21 13,484,389 10/09/2012
22 07/19/2012 01/14/2013 9903.52.22 13,490,489 10/16/2012
23 07/26/2012 01/21/2013 9903.52.23 13,517,512 10/23/2012
24 08/02/2012 01/28/2013 9903.52.24 13,517,512 10/30/2012
25 08/09/2012 02/04/2013 9903.52.25 13,517,512 11/06/2012
26 08/16/2012 02/11/2013 9903.52.26 13,516,971 11/13/2012
01 08/23/2012 02/18/2013 9903.52.01 13,516,971 11/20/2012
02 08/30/2012 02/25/2013 9903.52.02 13,516,971 11/27/2012
03 03/08/2012 09/03/2012 9903.52.03 14,594,057 06/05/2012
04 03/15/2012 09/10/2012 9903.52.04 14,594,057 06/12/2012
05 03/22/2012 09/17/2012 9903.52.05 14,594,057 06/19/2012
06 03/29/2012 09/24/2012 9903.52.06 14,594,057 06/26/2012
07 04/05/2012 10/01/2012 9903.52.07 14,594,057 07/03/2012
08 04/12/2012 10/08/2012 9903.52.08 14,594,057 07/10/2012
09 04/19/2012 10/15/2012 9903.52.09 14,594,057 07/17/2012
10 04/26/2012 10/22/2012 9903.52.10 14,594,057 07/24/2012
11 05/03/2012 10/29/2012 9903.52.11 14,594,057 07/31/2012