Federal Register Notices:
• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Seamless Carbon and Alloy Steel Standard, Line and Pressure Pipe From the People's Republic of China: Continuation of Antidumping Duty and Countervailing Duty Orders
• Methionine From Japan and Spain: Antidumping Duty Orders
• Carbon and Certain Alloy Steel Wire Rod From Mexico: Amended Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, and Final Determination of No Shipments; 2018-2019
• Institution of Investigation: Certain Video Security Equipment and Systems, Related Software, Components Thereof, and Products Containing Same; Institution of Investigation
• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Certain Stilbenic Optical Brightening Agents From Taiwan: Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2019-2020
• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Granular Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) Resin From India and Russia; Scheduling of the Final Phase of Countervailing Duty and Antidumping Duty Investigations
• Investigations; Determinations, Modifications, and Rulings, etc.: Polyethylene Retail Carrier Bags From China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam; Scheduling of Expedited Five-Year Reviews
• Certain Percussive Massage Devices; Notice of Request for Submissions on the Public Interest
• Petroleum Wax Candles From China; Scheduling of Expedited Five-Year Review
• Certain Electronic Devices, Including Streaming Players, Televisions, Set Top Boxes, Remote Controllers, and Components Thereof; Commission Determination To Review the Final Initial Determination in Part and To Request Written Submissions on the Issues Under Review, Remedy, Bonding, and the Public Interest
• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Magnesium Metal From the People's Republic of China: Final Results of Expedited Third Sunset Review of the Antidumping Duty Order
• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Certain Vertical Shaft Engines Between 99cc and up to 225cc, and Parts Thereof, From the People's Republic of China: Initiation of Anti-Circumvention Inquiry of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Orders-60cc up to 99cc Engines
• Certain Carbon Steel Butt-Weld Pipe Fittings From Brazil, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, and the People's Republic of China: Final Results of the Expedited Sunset Reviews of the Antidumping Duty Orders
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CBP Modifies Forced Labor Finding on Top Glove Corporation Bhd. - U.S. Customs & Border Protection
With forced labor concerns addressed, company’s gloves may now be imported into U.S.
WASHINGTON — U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced today that it has modified the forced labor Finding on Top Glove Corporation Bhd. Effective immediately, CBP will permit the importation of disposable gloves made at Top Glove facilities in Malaysia.
“Withhold Release Orders and Findings send a strong message to U.S. importers about the costs associated with doing business with entities that exploit forced labor, but they also offer a path to remediation,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “This is a great example of the extraordinary efforts of U.S. Customs and Border Protection to protect human rights and American consumers and businesses from goods made by modern slavery.”
“CBP modified a Finding after thoroughly reviewing evidence that Top Glove has addressed all indicators of forced labor identified at its Malaysian facilities,” said CBP Acting Commissioner Troy Miller. “Top Glove’s actions in response to the Withhold Release Order, which include issuing more than $30 million in remediation payments to workers and improving labor and living conditions at the company’s facilities, suggest that CBP’s enforcement efforts provide a strong economic incentive for entities to eliminate forced labor from their supply chains.”
On March 29, 2021, CBP published a Finding in the Customs Bulletin and the Federal Register against disposable gloves produced in Malaysia by Top Glove. CBP personnel were instructed to begin seizing shipments of those gloves due to information indicating that Top Glove used forced labor to produce them.
The Finding expanded upon a Withhold Release Order (WRO) that CBP issued in July 2020. That WRO was based on reasonable but not conclusive information of multiple forced labor indicators in Top Glove’s production process, including debt bondage, excessive overtime, abusive working and living conditions, and retention of identity documents.
19 U.S.C. 1307 prohibits the importation of merchandise produced, wholly or in part, by convict labor, forced labor, and/or indentured labor, including forced or indentured child labor. When CBP has information reasonably indicating that imported goods are made by forced labor, the agency will order personnel at U.S. ports of entry to detain shipments of those goods. Importers of detained shipments will forfeit the merchandise if they do not export their shipments or demonstrate – in accordance with the requirements of 19 C.F.R §12.43 – that the merchandise was not produced with forced labor.
If CBP has evidence sufficient to determine that imported goods were produced using forced labor, the agency will publish a Finding to that effect in the Federal Register pursuant to 19 C.F.R. §12.42(f). CBP seizes shipments subject to Findings unless the importer can prove to CBP’s satisfaction that, per 19 C.F.R §12.43, the merchandise was not produced with forced labor.
CBP has established a process through which interested parties may request the modification or revocation of a Withhold Release Order or Finding. The required evidence and timeline for modification or revocation may vary depending upon the specific circumstances of each individual case. CBP does not modify Withhold Release Orders or Findings until the agency has evidence demonstrating that the subject merchandise is no longer produced, manufactured, or mined using forced labor.
Notice of the modification of the forced labor Finding on Top Glove is available in the Federal Register and in the Customs Bulletin.
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CBP Introduces First-in-the-nation Dedicated Centralized Inspection Facility at LAXCBP Introduces First-in-the-nation Dedicated Centralized Inspection Facility at LAX - U.S. Customs & Border Protection
LOS ANGELES —Today, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in partnership with Custom Specialized Services, introduced the first-in-the-nation dedicated Air Centralized Examination Station (A-CES) at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
A ribbon cutting ceremony marked the commencement of operations of the new 40,000 sq. ft facility which will expedite e-commerce shipments arriving internationally while efficiently intercepting illicit goods. Since the beginning of the pandemic e-commerce importations at LAX experienced an unprecedented growth of over 700%.
“In support of the economy recovery efforts, the new cargo processing space streamlines the unprecedented volume of e-commerce shipments at LAX, while ensuring the highest levels of national security,” said Carlos C. Martel, CBP Director of Field Operations in Los Angeles. “By expediting the commercial flow of legitimate goods, this CBP innovation will have an immediate economic multiplier effect.”
Until now, cargo was examined by dispatching CBP Officers to more than 87 different bonded warehouses to perform required examinations; some located as far as 11 miles from the CBP port office.
To meet CBP’s mission needs and expedite cargo exams, the A-CES is fitted with non-intrusive inspection technology which will streamline the validation and clearance process, further fostering the commercial flow of legitimate commercial goods.
“We are extremely proud of our partnership with U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Custom Specialized Services’ vision is to be the leading provider of customized supply chain solutions, through innovation, partnership and service to the freight forwarder and custom broker community,” said Tony Gregory, CEO Custom Specialized Services.
In Fiscal Year (FY) 2020, the port processed 53 million e-commerce shipments, a 657% increase from 7 million the year before.
As of August 31, of this fiscal year, the port has processed over 131 million e-commerce shipments, a 147% increase from all of Fiscal Year 2020.
While the vast majority of importers follow U.S. laws and regulations, transnational crime organizations are constantly attempting to circumvent the system by hiding their contraband under the massive flow of legitimate shipments.
“The response to this challenge is the consolidation of our cargo exams at a centralized location, said Cheryl Davies,” CBP Port Director of the Los Angeles International Airport. “This consolidation will allow CBP officers to efficiently facilitate legitimate shipments while stopping and seizing illicit goods.”
CBP LAX cargo operations processes 40% of the nation’s volume of low-value shipments, or Section 321 shipments. The new facility will allow CBP officers to efficiently process over 15,000 shipments every day.
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In One Night Louisville CBP Intercepted $57 Million in Designer Watches - U.S. Customs & Border Protection
LOUISVILLE, Ky — On Friday, September 10, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers assigned to the Port of Louisville seized 32 separate shipments containing counterfeit designer watches worth $57.84 million.
CBP officers inspected all these parcels to determine if the goods were admissible in accordance with CBP regulations. The officers found a total of 2,168 designer watches determined to be counterfeit by CBP’s trade experts at the Centers of Excellence and Expertise. All the watches originated from Hong Kong and were destined for several addresses across the U.S.
Two of the more notable seizures were destined for the same business in Flushing, New York. The first shipment contained 958 counterfeit Rolex watches that would have been worth $8.4 million, while the second shipment contained 1,000 more counterfeit Rolex watches that could have been worth $40.6 million. Other seizures included 4 counterfeit Richard Mille watches that, if they were real, would have been worth $766,000 and another shipment contained 93 various counterfeit designer watches worth $3 million.
Historically, counterfeit watches and jewelry have been one of the top seized counterfeit products by CBP, with more than a quarter of the counterfeit goods coming from Hong Kong. Counterfeit watches and jewelry make up almost half of the total MSRP of seized goods (an average of $650 million over the last two years).
“Consumers should be aware that if a known high-value brand is being offered for an unusually low price, it could very well be fake. CBP encourages the use of reputable vendors for your valuable purchases,” said LaFonda Sutton-Burke, Director, Field Operations, Chicago. “Our officers are dedicated to preventing counterfeiters from defrauding consumers and legitimate businesses.”
Sold in underground outlets and on third party e-commerce websites, counterfeit commodities fund smugglers and members of organized crime. Consumers often believe they are buying a genuine product but soon realize the item is substandard and potentially dangerous.
CBP Trade protects the intellectual property rights of American businesses through an aggressive Intellectual Property Rights enforcement program, safeguarding them from unfair competition and use for malicious intent while upholding American innovation and ingenuity. Suspected violations can be reported to CBP here.
Every year, CBP seizes millions of counterfeit goods from countries around the world as part of its mission to protect U.S. businesses and consumers. These goods include fake versions of popular products, such as smartphones and related accessories, electronics, apparel, shoes, cosmetics, and high-end luxury goods, as well as goods posing significant health and safety concerns, such as counterfeit pharmaceuticals, bicycle and motorcycle helmets, medical devices, supplements and other consumables. Sold online and in stores, counterfeit goods hurt the U.S. economy, cost Americans their jobs, threaten consumer health and safety, and fund criminal activity. Visit the National IPR Coordination Center for more information about IPR including counterfeiting and piracy.
Nationwide in Fiscal Year 2020, CBP seized 26,503 shipments containing goods that violated intellectual property rights. The total estimated value of the seized goods, had they been genuine, was nearly $1.3 billion. CBP has established an educational initiative to raise consumer awareness about the consequences and dangers that are often associated with the purchase of counterfeit and pirated goods. Information about the Truth Behind Counterfeits public awareness campaign can be found at
https://www.cbp.gov/FakeGoodsRealDangers.
CBP's border security mission is led at 328 ports of entry by CBP officers from the Office of Field Operations. Please visit CBP Ports of Entry to learn more about how CBP’s Office of Field Operations secures our nation’s borders. Learn more about CBP at www.CBP.gov.
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Pittsburgh CBP Officers Seize Counterfeit COVID-19 Vaccination Cards from China - U.S. Customs & Border Protection
PITTSBURGH – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers seized the second of two shipments of counterfeit COVID-19 vaccination cards in Pittsburgh on September 7.
The two international mail parcels contained a combined 70 fake COVID vaccination cards. CBP officers seized the first parcel of 20 cards on August 24 after they determined that the cards presented a low-quality appearance and that they were being imported by a consignee who is not from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or a certified medical entity.
CBP officers placed a hold on a second shipment destined to the same Beaver County, Pa., consignee. That parcel of 50 fake COVID cards arrived on Tuesday. Both parcels were shipped from China.
An investigation continues.
The FBI has warned the public that buying, selling, or using a counterfeit COVID-19 vaccination cards endangers and places others at risk, and breaks our nation’s laws.
CBP officers in Chicago, Memphis and Anchorage, Alaska, have seized more than 6,000 counterfeit COVID-19 vaccination cards.
“Coronavirus and its variants continues to pose a serious health and safety threat to American citizens, and so do unscrupulous vendors who peddle counterfeit COVID vaccination cards,” said William Fitting, CBP’s Port Director in Pittsburgh. “Customs and Border Protection will continue to intercept counterfeit goods, such as these fake vaccine cards, that threaten our nation, our people and our economy.”
CBP's border security mission is led at ports of entry by CBP officers from the Office of Field Operations. CBP officers screen international travelers and cargo and search for illicit narcotics, unreported currency, weapons, counterfeit consumer goods, prohibited agriculture, and other illicit products that could potentially harm the American public, U.S. businesses, and our nation’s safety and economic vitality. Learn more about what CBP accomplished during "A Typical Day" in 2020.
Please visit CBP Ports of Entry to learn more about how CBP’s Office of Field Operations secures our nation’s borders. Learn more about CBP at www.CBP.gov.
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86 Counterfeit Championship Rings Seized by Chicago CBP - U.S. Customs & Border Protection
CHICAGO — Sports memorabilia is a lucrative business. Fans and collectors pay top dollar for memorabilia to add to their collection or pass down to future fans. However, this business does have its phony dealers that peddle their counterfeit merchandise cashing in at the expense of collectors and fans.
On September 13, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Chicago port of entry seized a shipment from China that contained 86 championship rings. Chicago’s Trade Enforcement Team and CBP’s trade experts at the Centers of Excellence and Expertise determined the rings were counterfeit due to the fact that all of the goods were constructed of poor quality and lacked security features. The shipment was destined for a residence in Florissant, Missouri.
“Shipments like these prey on the many sports fans across the nation who may be scammed into paying high prices for fake memorabilia,” said LaFonda Sutton-Burke, Director, Field Operations, Chicago. “I’m extremely proud of these officers’ determination in stopping illicit shipments, and our commitment to protecting the American economy.”
The parcel contained fake championship rings from the Chicago Bulls (24), New York Yankees (34), St. Louis Cardinals (22), and the Philadelphia Eagles (6). Had the rings been authentic, the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price would have been $2.38 million.
Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) enforcement is a Priority Trade Issue. Importation of counterfeit merchandise can cause significant revenue loss, damage the U.S. economy, and threaten the health and safety of the American people. In partnership with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, CBP seized 27,599 shipments with IPR violations in fiscal year 2019. If the seized products were genuine, the total manufacturer’s suggested retail price of the items would have been valued at over $1.5 billion.
Over the past five years, e-commerce has grown exponentially as consumers are increasingly completing purchases online. These purchases are typically shipped through international mail and express courier services.
Sold in underground outlets and on third party e-commerce websites, counterfeit commodities fund smugglers and members of organized crime. Consumers often believe they are buying a genuine product but soon realize the item is substandard and potentially dangerous.
“Counterfeiters easily hide in plain sight on online marketplaces. They dupe shoppers into buying low quality and dangerous counterfeits online,” said Shane Campbell, Area Port Director - Chicago. “CBP employees work tirelessly to protect our economy and consumers every day.”
CBP Trade protects the intellectual property rights of American businesses through an aggressive Intellectual Property Rights enforcement program, safeguarding them from unfair competition and use for malicious intent while upholding American innovation and ingenuity. Suspected violations can be reported to CBP here.
If you are aware of, or suspect, a company or individual of infringing upon a trademark or copyright, please report the suspected violation to e-Allegations Online Trade Violation Reporting System or by calling 1-800-BE-ALERT.