Here is a recap of the latest customs and international trade law news:

OFAC

  • On February 21, 2022, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued an executive order blocking property of certain persons and prohibiting certain transactions with respect to continued Russian efforts to undermine the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine in addition to an issuance of Ukraine related general licenses.
  • On February 24, 2022, as part of the United States’ serious and expansive response to Russia’s further invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is sanctioning 24 Belarusian individuals and entities due to Belarus’s support for, and facilitation of, the invasion.
  • On February 24, 2022, the United States took significant and unprecedented action to respond to Russia’s further invasion of Ukraine by imposing severe economic costs that will have both immediate and long-term effects on the Russian economy and financial system.

CBP

  • On February 18, 2022, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Department of Homeland Security has released a 60-Day notice and request for comments; revision of an existing collection of information on the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT) Program and CTPAT Trade Compliance Program.
    • Comments are encouraged and must be submitted no later than April 19, 2022, to be assured of consideration.
  • On February 10, 2022, a shipment manifested as “lithium metal batteries/watches” was seized by CBP after an intensive exam determined the contents to be counterfeit watches. A total of 25 watches were seized because they violated Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) of the Cartier trademark. CBP officers determined that the watches had a total Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) value of approximately $2.3 million dollars.
  • On February 15, 2022. McAllen Border Patrol Station (MCS) agents arrested two Salvadoran nationals who were revealed to be part of the gang Mara-Salvatrucha (MS-13). On February 16, 2022, MCS processing agents encountered two other Salvadoran nationals whose records revealed they are MS-13 gang members with numerous removals from the United States. They were taken into Border Patrol custody on Feb. 15, after serving confinement sentences from their most recent illegal entry apprehensions in June and September 2021, respectively.
  • On February 16, 2022, Rio Grande Valley Sector Border Patrol (RGV) agents disrupted three migrant smuggling attempts resulting in 13 arrests.
  • On February 18, 2022, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Department of Homeland Security has released a 60-Day notice and request for comments; revision of an existing collection of information on the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT) Program and CTPAT Trade Compliance Program.
    • Comments are encouraged and must be submitted no later than April 19, 2022, to be assured of consideration.

If you have questions about these updates, contact our Customs and International trade law attorneys at info@diaztradelaw.com or call us at 305-456-3830.

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