C-AIR TIMES ISSUE #245 - Friday, December 14, 2012 08:08

CBP, Israeli Customs Sign Joint Work Plan, Vow Further Partnership

U.S. Customs & Border Protection / http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/highlights/israeli_plan.xml

CBP Deputy Commissioner David V. Aguilar joined Israeli Customs Director General/ Acting Director Israeli Tax Authority Doron Arbely at CBP headquarters in Washington, D.C., to sign a joint work plan, establishing a pathway to signing a mutual recognition agreement between CBP’s Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism, or C-TPAT, and the Israeli Tax Authority’s Authorized Economic Operator Program.

C-TPAT is CBP’s voluntary supply-chain security program for importers, brokers, carriers and other eligible entities. C-TPAT builds upon relationships with all segments of the supply chain, both foreign and domestic, to secure the entire supply chain of goods entering the U.S.

Prior to meeting Aguilar and signing the work plan, Arbely and the Israeli delegation received an aerial tour from CBP’s San Diego Air and Marine Unit, in addition to an extensive tour of CBP operations in San Diego, Los Angeles and Long Beach, Calif. During their tour, they were briefed on port operations, cargo processing, C-TPAT, radiation portal monitoring systems, Merchandise Enforcement Team warehouse inspections and the latest technology in use by CBP field personnel. They were also briefed on anti-tunneling operations at Galvez Tunnel in Otay Mesa, Calif., and were briefed on CBP’s border tunnel activity system.

Aguilar said he appreciates the mutual cooperation with his Israeli counterparts. He said it was another example of the enduring friendship and vital partnership between the two countries as they address the challenges of securing their borders and facilitating legitimate trade and travel.

“The signing of this joint work plan further solidifies the United States’ strong and enduring partnership with Israel, and our mutual dedication to ensure the safety and security of both our countries,” said Aguilar.

The Israeli delegation will visit the Port of Buffalo on Monday, where they will be briefed on the infrastructure and operations of the port with an emphasis in the challenges and successes at the Northern border. The Israeli delegation will also be briefed on the communication and coordination with Canada Customs and collaborations with other government agencies.

This will complete the Israeli Delegation's visit to the United States and will depart having a better understanding on how CBP manages its ports from the Northern and Southern Borders and the steps in achieving a Mutual Recognition Arrangement.

 

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USITC Releases 2011 Data on Shifts in U.S. Merchandise Trade, Seeks Input on Improving Data Presentation and Analysis
U.S. International Trade Commission / http://www.usitc.gov/press_room/news_release/2012/er1211kk1.

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) has released data for 2011 regarding changes in trade with key U.S. partners and for individual U.S. industries, along with a user survey it hopes will help the agency identify ways to revise and improve its data presentation and analysis in this area.

The USITC, an independent, nonpartisan, factfinding federal agency, compiles the information and releases it in an annual web-based report. The report provides details and analysis for key shifts in merchandise trade and can be searched by country or industry group and subgroup. Certain of the trade data are also updated each quarter on the USITC website.

The USITC is not publishing its annual report this year while it evaluates its trade shifts reporting to ensure that it is presenting data and analysis in ways that users find useful and timely. The agency is actively seeking input from users through a brief survey, which is posted on its web site.

The trade data for 2011 can be found at: http://www.usitc.gov/research_and_analysis/tradeshifts/2011/index.htm

 The survey can be found at: http://parkinglot.usitc.gov/ITCSurveys/OARS/Trade_Shifts/Trade_Shifts.asp?P1=0710-90x6-58p

 

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Statement from Acting U.S. Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank on International Trade in Goods and Services in October 2012

U.S. Department of Commerce / http://www.commerce.gov/news/press-releases/2012/12/11/state ment-acting-us-commerce-secretary-rebecca-blank-international-tr

Acting U.S. Secretary of Commerce Rebecca Blank issued the following statement today on the release of the October 2012 U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services (PDF) by the Commerce Department’s Census Bureau and Bureau of Economic Analysis. In October 2012, imports of goods and services declined 2.1 percent from September to reach $222.8 billion, and exports of goods and services reached $180.5 billion, down 3.6 percent over this period. As a result, the October 2012 international trade deficit increased to $42.2 billion from September, which was better than market expectations. Year-over-year exports in the month of October 2012 also outperformed October of the prior year with a $1.8 billion increase in exports and a $3.5 billion improvement in the total trade deficit. Moreover, U.S. merchandise exports to China, M exico and Brazil were at record levels in October, and the merchandise trade surplus with South and Central America was the highest on record.

“Although more work remains, we are making progress toward achieving President Obama’s National Export Initiative goal of doubling U.S. exports by the end of 2014. Despite global economic headwinds, October exports of $180.5 billion were still among the highest monthly export levels on record, and we continue to be on track to exceed last year’s record export total of $2.1 trillion,” said Acting U.S. Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank. “We must continue to take steps to strengthen the economy and create jobs, including extending income tax cuts for 98 percent of Americans and 97 percent of small businesses.”

 

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U.S. Customs and Border Protection Import Specialists and Officers Seize Counterfeit Watches Valued at $83 Million
U.S. Customs & Border Protection  / www.cbp.gov

Laredo, Texas – The Import Specialist Enforcement Team (ISET) at U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Laredo port of entry recently seized a commercial shipment of counterfeit watches infringing on the Audemars Piguet recorded trademark carrying a retail value of $83 million. This is the second significant seizure involving the same trademark in less than six months.

In the enforcement action, finalized recently, a CBP import specialist at World Trade Bridge selected a shipment of watches arriving via express consignment truck for a secondary examination. In the course of their examination, CBP officers and import specialists discovered possible infringement of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Octagonal Bezel Design trademark, which is a trademark recorded with CBP. After a legal review from CBP Headquarters Intellectual Propert y Rights Branch and confirmation from Audemars Piguet that the use of their trademark was unauthorized, CBP subsequently determined on Oct. 25 that the 7,800 watches were infringing on the aforementioned Audemars Piguet design trademark and seized them. The total manufacturer’s suggested retail price, had the Audemars Piguet design trademark been genuine, was $83 million.

“This seizure of $83 million in counterfeit watches is now the largest in port history and is the second multimillion dollar seizure involving the same Audemars Piguet design trademark in less than six months,” said Sidney Aki, CBP port director, Laredo Port of Entry. “As we approach the Christmas holidays, seizures like these help reassure both the trade community and the public that CBP remains committed to ensuring that recorded trademarks are protected and the American consumer is protected from counterfeit merchandise.” 

CBP’s vigilant enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights protects America’s businesses against the threat of unfair and illicit competition from foreign companies and prevents goods that may be dangerous to consumers or national security from entering the United States.

 

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Unsafe Holiday Rubber Ducks Seized by CBP in Los Angeles

Over 35,000 Imported Plastic Toys in Violation of Consumer Product Safety Act
U.S. Customs & Border Protection  / www.cbp.gov

Los Angeles—They arrived from China dressed as Santa, Snowman, Gingerbread man, Reindeer and Penguin, all 35,712, but their cute holiday flair did not deflect the scrutiny of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers and import specialists, at the Los Angeles/Long Beach seaport. 

Working closely with U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) compliance investigators, CBP officials seized the holiday ducks on December 4, after determining that the toys, with a domestic value of $18,522, contained a regulated phthalate in excess of the limit which may be harmful to the health and safety of children.

Phthalates are a group of chemicals (oily, colorless liquids) that are used among other things to make vinyl and other plastics soft and flexible. CPSC regulation prohibits the sale, distribution or importation into the United States of any children’s toy or child care article that contains concentrations of more than 0.1 percent of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), or benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP).

“This seizure reflects the unprecedented level of collaboration between CBP and CSPC professionals. CBP incorporates CPSC expertise directly in identifying potentially unsafe products arriving in shipments at the Los Angeles/Long Beach seaport,” said Todd C. Owen, CBP Director of Field Operations in Los Angeles.

Over the past four years, CPSC and CBP have stopped more than 8.5 million units of about 2,400 different toys and children’s products due to safety hazards or the failure to meet federal safety standards. By seizing dangerous toys and children’s products at U.S. ports of entry, CBP and CPSC keep unsafe products off store shelves and out of consumers’ homes.

Import safety is a priority trade issue for CBP. The agency works with CPSC as well as nearly 50 other government agencies to enforce their import regulations and to stop unsafe and illicit goods from entering the country.

 

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CBP Reminds Public Ponche Ingredients are Prohibited from Entry
U.S. Customs & Border Protection / http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/local/12122012_6.xml

San Diego – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials are reminding the public that ponche ingredients, guavas, Hawthorn apples (tejocotes), and sugarcane are prohibited from entering the United States.

Ponche, a traditional Mexican holiday punch, is shared and enjoyed among many families along the Southwest Border during the holiday seasons. However, the ingredients used to make it, guavas, Hawthorn apples (tejocotes) and sugar cane, are all illegal when imported through a passenger port of entry, like the San Ysidro border crossing.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers and agriculture specialists are expecting an increase in the attempted importation of the prohibited ingredients.

CBP is advising the public that the prohibited items pose significant pest risks. Tejocotes, and especially guavas, are hosts to exotic fruit flies. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, fruit flies are among the most destructive pests of fruits and vegetables around the world. Fruit flies spend their larval stages feeding and growing in over 400 host plants.

Introduction of these pest species into the United States causes economic losses from destruction and spoiling of host commodities by larvae, costs associated with implementing control measures, and loss of market share due to restrictions on shipment of host commodities. Both guavas and tejocotes are prohibited under 7 CFR 319.56, and sugar cane, if imported freshly harvested, is prohibited under 7 CFR 319.15.

“I want to remind the public that these products are prohibited and failure to declare them could result in penalties,” said Pete Flores, the director of field operations in San Diego.

“CBP officers and agriculture specialists will be on the lookout for individuals attempting to import these ponche ingredients through the passenger environment and will refer vehicles for secondary inspection that are believed to be transporting these and other prohibited items.”

( Video - Raw footage of prohibited ponche ingredients and explanation as to why they are prohibited, by Chief Agriculture Specialist, Hector Baez )

 

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2013 Federal Holidays

Below is a listing of Federal Holidays for Calendar Year 2013