C-TPAT - C-Air Customhouse Brokers / By Eric Jones, C-Air Los Angeles
We encourage our import clients to visit our updated C-TPAT website (http://www.c-air.com). After accessing the C-TPAT button within our website, you will find two new CBP provided documents. The documents are titled Seaport Pest Contamination and Wood Packaging Material. Both documents are Trade Outreach from CBP and the USDA to assist the import community. We encourage our import clients to share this information with their suppliers to ensure ocean containers and wood packing materials are compliant with all regulations to avoid delays in release and additional expenses to fumigate containers.
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**Federal Register Notices:
• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Hard Empty Capsules From Brazil: Preliminary Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination and Alignment of Final Determination With Final Antidumping Duty Determination
• Hard Empty Capsules From India: Preliminary Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination and Alignment of Final Determination With Final Antidumping Duty Determination
• Hard Empty Capsules From the Socialist Republic of Vietnam: Preliminary Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination and Alignment of Final Determination With Final Antidumping Duty Determination
• Thermoformed Molded Fiber Products From the Socialist Republic of Vietnam: Preliminary Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination, Preliminary Affirmative Critical Circumstances Determination, and Alignment of Final Determination With Final Antidumping Duty Determination; Correction
• Hard Empty Capsules From the People's Republic of China: Preliminary Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination and Alignment of Final Determination With Final Antidumping Duty Determination
• Thermoformed Molded Fiber Products From the People's Republic of China: Preliminary Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination and Alignment of Final Determination With Final Antidumping Duty Determination; Correction
• Investigations; Determinations, Modifications, and Rulings, etc.: Diffusion-Annealed, Nickel-Plated Flat-Rolled Steel Products From Japan
• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Order, Finding, or Suspended Investigation; Opportunity To Request Administrative Review and Join Annual Inquiry Service List
• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Order, Finding, or Suspended Investigation; Advance Notification of Sunset Review
• Hard Empty Capsules From India: Preliminary Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination and Alignment of Final Determination With Final Antidumping Duty Determination
• Glycine From the People's Republic of China: Notice of Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Changed Circumstances Review
• Investigations; Determinations, Modifications, and Rulings, etc.: Chlorinated Isocyanurates From China; Institution of a Five-Year Review
• Certain Chocolate Milk Powder and Packaging Thereof; Notice of Institution of Formal Enforcement Proceeding
• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Polyester Textured Yarn From India and the People's Republic of China: Final Results of the Expedited First Sunset Reviews of the Antidumping Duty Orders
• Granular Polytetrafluoroethylene Resin From India: Notice of Court Decision Not in Harmony With the Final Determination of Antidumping Investigation; Notice of Amended Final Determination; Notice of Amended Order, in Part
• Certain Hot-Rolled Steel Flat Products From the Republic of Korea: Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2022-2023
• Investigations; Determinations, Modifications, and Rulings, etc.: Multifunctional Acrylate and Methacrylate Monomers, and Acrylated Bisphenol-A Epoxy Based Oligomers From South Korea and Taiwan; Institution of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Investigations and Scheduling of Preliminary Phase Investigations
• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Certain Corrosion-Resistant Steel Products From the United Arab Emirates and South Africa: Preliminary Affirmative Determination, in Part, of Critical Circumstances
• Notice of Scope Ruling Applications Filed in Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings
• Overhead Door Counterbalance Torsion Springs From India: Preliminary Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination and Alignment of Final Determination With Final Antidumping Duty Determination
• Certain Epoxy Resins From the Republic of Korea: Final Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination and Final Negative Critical Circumstances Determination
• Circular Welded Carbon Steel Pipes and Tubes From Thailand: Preliminary Results and Partial Rescission of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2023-2024
• Certain Epoxy Resins From Taiwan: Final Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination
• Slag Pots From the People's Republic of China: Preliminary Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination
• Certain Epoxy Resins From the People's Republic of China: Final Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination and Final Affirmative Determination of Critical Circumstances
• Overhead Door Counterbalance Torsion Springs From the People's Republic of China: Preliminary Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination and Alignment of Final Determination With Final Antidumping Duty Determination
• Certain Steel Nails From Taiwan: Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review and Partial Rescission of Review; 2023-2024
• Certain Epoxy Resins From India: Final Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination
• Certain Chassis and Subassemblies Thereof From the People's Republic of China: Notice of Covered Merchandise Referral and Initiation of Covered Merchandise Inquiry
• Investigations; Determinations, Modifications, and Rulings, etc.: Uncovered Innerspring Units From China, South Africa, and Vietnam Determinations
• Implementation of Duties: Implementation of Duties on Aluminum Derivatives Beer and Empty Aluminum Cans Pursuant to Proclamation 10895 Adjusting Imports of Aluminum Into the United States
• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Ferrosilicon From Brazil, Kazakhstan, and Malaysia; Supplemental Schedule for the Final Phase of Countervailing Duty and Antidumping Duty Investigations
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GSA Partners with Agencies to Eliminate Wasteful Vehicle Charging Stations at Federal Facilities - U.S. General Service Administration
Pursuant to President Trump’s Executive Order on Unleashing American Energy
WASHINGTON — Today (4/3/25), the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) issued a memorandum to tenants in federal facilities under its jurisdiction. The memorandum provides agencies with the criteria to be used to justify that any electric vehicle charging infrastructure is mission critical. Charging infrastructure not deemed mission critical will be deactivated and associated contracts or orders will be terminated. This is the first step in GSA’s process of evaluating the mission critical needs of our partner agencies for electric vehicle charging infrastructures.
“GSA is quickly correcting course on efforts to install electric vehicle charging ports and looks forward to working closely with our federal agency partners to stop wastefully spending taxpayer dollars on charging stations that are not used or needed,” said Public Buildings Service Commissioner Michael P. Peters.
GSA Directive 5605.1B, issued March 3, 2025, establishes that no new charging station installations are authorized, and federal agencies must provide a written determination stating they have a mission-critical need to charge electric vehicles at a GSA-managed facility.
Since the President issued the Unleashing American Energy Executive Order on January 20, 2025, GSA has canceled 32 electric vehicle charging projects worth over $23 million — with additional savings expected as a result of the swift action.
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Brownsville Port of Entry CBP Agriculture Specialists Intercept Rare First in Port Pest - U.S. Customs & Border Protection
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Agriculture specialists with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations at the Veterans International Bridge import lot intercepted a rare “First in Port” pest in a shipment of palm foliage.
The interception occurred on March 13 at the Veterans International Bridge import lot when a shipment consisting of palm foliage was referred to the dock for an intensive agriculture inspection. Upon inspection of the palm foliage, CBP agriculture specialists found a live pest on a palm leaf which was submitted to a U.S. Department of Agriculture entomologist for identification. The initial identification was confirmed by a national specialist as Diabrotica sexmaculata Baly, an actionable pest intercepted for the first time in the Brownsville Port of Entry.
“The work performed by CBP agriculture specialists at our ports of entry plays an important part in safeguarding our American agriculture by preventing the dissemination of pests and animal and plant diseases,” said Port Director Tater Ortiz, Brownsville Port of Entry.
Diabrotica is a large, widespread genus of beetles in the Chrysomelidae family. Members of the genus include several destructive agriculture species sometimes referred to as corn rootworms. Diabrotica sexmaculata Baly was first identified in 1879 and has known distribution in Guatemala and Mexico.
The shipment of palm foliage was re-exported to Mexico.
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Combating Unfair Practices in the Live Entertainment Market - (Executive Orders/March 31, 2025) - White House
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:
Section 1. Purpose. (a) America’s live concert and entertainment industry is the envy of the world. But it has become blighted by unscrupulous middlemen who sit at the intersection between artists and fans and impose egregious fees while providing minimal value. Ticket scalpers use bots and other unfair means to acquire large quantities of face-value tickets and then re-sell them at an enormous markup on the secondary market, price-gouging consumers and depriving fans of the opportunity to see their favorite artists without incurring extraordinary expenses. By some reports, fans have paid as much as 70 times face value to obtain a ticket. When this occurs, the artists do not receive any profit. All profits go solely to the scalper and the ticketing agency.
(b) My Administration is committed to making as accessible as possible the arts and entertainment that enrich Americans’ lives. The rent-seeking behaviors surrounding the ticketing industry are contrary to this goal. They are detrimental to consumers and capitalize on market distortions that must not be allowed to persist.
Sec. 2. Implementation. My Administration shall use all lawful authority to address the conduct described in section 1 of this order. Accordingly, I direct that:
(a) the Attorney General and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ensure that competition laws are appropriately enforced in the concert and entertainment industry, including where venues, ticketing agents, or combinations thereof operate to the detriment of artists and fans;
(b) the FTC rigorously enforce the Better Online Tickets Sales Act, 15 U.S.C. 45c, and collaborate with State Attorneys General or other State consumer protection officers on enforcement of the Better Online Ticket Sales Act, including by providing such State officials with information or evidence obtained by the FTC when consistent with applicable law.
(c) the FTC take appropriate action, including proposing regulations, if necessary, to ensure price transparency at all stages of the ticket-purchase process, including the secondary ticketing market.
(d) the FTC evaluate and, if appropriate, take enforcement action to prevent unfair, deceptive, and anti-competitive conduct in the secondary ticketing market; and
(e) the Secretary of the Treasury and Attorney General ensure, as appropriate, that ticket scalpers are operating in full compliance with the Internal Revenue Code and other applicable law.
Sec. 3. Report. Within 180 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of the Treasury, Attorney General, and Chairman of the FTC shall jointly submit a report to the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy and the Director of the Office and Management and Budget describing the actions they have taken to implement this order. The report shall also identify any recommendations for regulations or legislation necessary to protect consumers with respect to the live concert and entertainment industry.
Sec. 4. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
DONALD J. TRUMP / THE WHITE HOUSE, March 31, 2025
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Justice Department Launches Anticompetitive Regulations Task Force - Department of Justice
Task Force Invites Public Input Targeting Red Tape that Hinders Free Market Competition
Today, the Justice Department launches an Anticompetitive Regulations Task Force to advocate for the elimination of anticompetitive state and federal laws and regulations that undermine free market competition and harm consumers, workers, and businesses. The Antitrust Division has a long history of advocacy against laws and regulations that create unnecessary barriers to competition. The Task Force will surge resources to these efforts and invite public comments to support the Administration’s mission to unwind laws and regulations that hinder business dynamism and make markets less competitive.
“Realizing President Trump’s economic Golden Age will require unwinding burdensome regulations that stifle free market competition. This Antitrust Division will stand against harmful barriers to competition whether imposed by public regulators or private monopolists,” said Assistant Attorney General Abigail Slater of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “We look forward to working with the public and with other federal agencies to identify and eliminate anticompetitive laws and regulations.”
On Jan. 31, President Trump signed Executive Order 14192 declaring “the policy of the executive branch” to be that federal agencies should “alleviate unnecessary regulatory burdens placed on the American people.” Consistent with this policy, on Feb. 19, President Trump signed Executive Order 14219 directing agencies to “initiate a process to review all regulations” and identify regulations that, among other things, “impose undue burdens on small businesses and impede private enterprise and entrepreneurship.” Consistent with longstanding practice, the Antitrust Division will support federal agencies’ deregulatory initiatives by sharing its market expertise on regulations that pose the greatest barriers to economic growth.
Regulatory capture is a well-studied phenomenon in which agencies become “captured” by special interests and big businesses, rather than serving the interests of the American people. But when regulations serve the few and impose undue burdens on small businesses, private enterprise, and entrepreneurs, they also harm competition and ultimately hurt American consumers, workers, and businesses. For example, regulations can increase compliance costs, preventing businesses from competing on a level playing field with powerful corporations. Regulations can also discourage or even intentionally prohibit small businesses and new products from entering markets and lowering prices for American families. In contrast, eliminating unnecessary anticompetitive regulations makes it easier for businesses to compete. More competition empowers the American people — not government regulators — to drive economic progress and innovation. When every American has a fair opportunity to enjoy the benefits of competitive free markets, every American has an opportunity to realize the American dream.
By identifying and working with state and federal agencies to revise or eliminate these laws and regulations, the Anticompetitive Regulations Task Force will contribute to making the American dream a reality. As a first step, the Antitrust Division will initiate a public inquiry to identify unnecessary laws and regulations that raise the highest barriers to competition. In particular, the Division will seek information from the public about laws and regulations that make it more difficult for businesses to compete effectively, especially in markets that have the greatest impact on American households, including:
• Housing: Americans spend more than one-third of their monthly income on housing, and the cost of owning or renting a home continues to rise. Laws and regulations in housing markets can contribute to these problems by making it more difficult for companies to build and ordinary Americans to rent or buy.
• Transportation: Laws and regulations in areas like airlines, rail, and ocean shipping can grant antitrust immunities, outright monopolies, or safe harbors for conduct that undermines competition. As a result, Americans pay more for travel, fuel, and a variety of other products.
• Food and Agriculture: By the end of the Biden-Harris Administration, grocery prices were 27% higher than at the end of the first Trump Administration. Eliminating unnecessary anticompetitive regulations will help farmers, growers, and ranchers increase the amount of food they produce and unlock lower prices for American consumers.
• Healthcare: Laws and regulations in healthcare markets too often discourage doctors and hospitals from providing low-cost, high-quality healthcare and instead encourage overbilling and consolidation. These kinds of unnecessary anticompetitive regulations put affordable healthcare out of reach for millions of American families.
• Energy: Reliable and affordable energy is essential to modern American life — whether in homes, businesses, manufacturing plants, schools, hospitals, sporting events, or data centers. Laws and regulations can undermine reliability and affordability by protecting incumbent electricity providers from competition or disruptive innovation.
The public will have 60 days to submit comments at www.Regulations.gov (Docket No. ATR-2025-0001), no later than May 26. Once submitted, comments will be posted to Regulations.gov. All market participants are invited to provide comments in response to this inquiry, including consumers, consumer advocates, small businesses, employers, trade groups, industry analysts, and other entities that are impacted by anticompetitive state or federal laws and regulations.
In addition to reviewing responses from the public, the Task Force will bring together attorneys, economists, and other staff from across the Division, together with interagency partners, to identify state and federal laws and regulations that unnecessarily harm competition. The Antitrust Division will then take appropriate action, including helping agencies revise or eliminate these regulations.
The Task Force will also consider other ways to advocate for the removal of anticompetitive laws and regulations. The Division routinely files amicus briefs and statements of interests in private litigation, and it will continue to do so to promote competition and oppose anticompetitive laws and regulations. The Division also provides comments on proposed legislation in the states on the request of state legislators. These efforts will continue with an eye toward protecting competition and interstate commerce in light of dormant Commerce Clause principles.
The Justice Department has a long history of serving as the Executive Branch’s chief competition advocate by working with agencies to identify and eliminate unnecessary regulations. In 2018, the Justice Department released a report on how regulations can harm competition. Following this report, the Justice Department submitted dozens of comments to federal agencies supporting efforts to eliminate unnecessary regulations and increase competition. For example, the Justice Department, in consultation with the Federal Trade Commission, submitted a comment opposing regulations that would have protected incumbent electricity transmission companies from much-needed competition in energy markets across the country. The Justice Department filed comments aimed at making it easier for individuals and small businesses to navigate the federal government bureaucracy. The Justice Department also provided technical assistance and trainings to federal agencies to help them analyze how new and existing regulations might affect competition, or whether competition may be a better alternative to regulation altogether.
The Anticompetitive Regulations Task Force will continue these efforts, supporting ongoing efforts across the Trump Administration to unleash competition by eliminating unnecessary, burdensome, and wasteful government regulations. For more information on the Task Force, including contact information, see Anticompetitive Regulations Task Force Page on the Division’s website.