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SOLAS (Weigh or Pay) – Enforcement as of July 1, 2016

If you are involved in international trade, then you’ve recently heard the buzzword SOLAS and an enforcement date of July 1, 2016. Below contains a summary of SOLAS and what to be prepared for.

What is SOLAS?

  • “SOLAS,” an acronym made from The International Convention for the “Safety of Life at Sea,” is an international treaty that governs the safe operation of all ships engaged in international maritime trade. The SOLAS Convention specifies the minimum standards for the construction, equipment, and operation of merchant ships. The United States is a signatory to SOLAS.

Who is responsible?
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By |2021-11-09T14:28:45-05:00July 6, 2016|Best Practices, Export, Freight Forwarding|Comments Off on SOLAS (Weigh or Pay) – Enforcement as of July 1, 2016
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Build Your Own ‘People to People’ Mission & More Cuba Changes

If you have been following our Cuba updates, you’ll note we’ve been busy. A full listing of all of our posts to get you caught up are all the way at the bottom. Also, check out our new blog design and let me know what you think!

Here’s the Cliff Notes version:

  • On December 17, 2014, President Obama made a historic announcement: “Today, the United States is taking historic steps to chart a new course in our relations with Cuba and to further engage and empower the Cuban people.”
  • By January 16, 2015, both the U.S. Treasury Department, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) amended its Cuban Assets Control Regulations, and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s, Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) amended the Export Administration Regulations with a “Support for the Cuban People” license exception. Both OFAC and BIS’s new rules were effective as of January 16, 2015.
  • OFAC and BIS issued additional new rules on June 15, 2015, September 21, 2015, January 27, 2016 and again today!

As far as travel goes, the NY Times posted their travel tips, but, here are MY travel tips to you:

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By |2021-11-09T14:35:04-05:00March 16, 2016|Cuba, Customs Broker, Export, Freight Forwarding, Import, International Travel, U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)|6 Comments
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Up to 110 Daily Flights from the U.S. to Cuba

If you are in aviation – commercial or private – there are potential new business opportunities in Cuba. The American government and our new friendly neighbor to the south, the Republic of Cuba last sat at the negotiation table to discuss Air Transportation agreements in 1957, as parties to the Convention on International Civil Aviation. Nearly sixty years later, on February 16, 2016, the United States government and Cuba entered into an aviation agreement, the U.S.-Cuba Memorandum of Understanding of February 16, 2016, and intend to apply the basis of comity and reciprocity of the agreement.

Immediately after, Anthony Foxx, U.S. Transportation Secretary, Charles Rivkin, Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs, Adel Yzquierdo Rodriguez, Cuban Minister of Transportation and Colonel Alfredo Cordero Puig, President of the Cuban Civil Aviation Institute (IACC), Ministry of Transportation  signed the agreement, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) encouraged U.S. air carriers to apply for licensing and authorization to offer flights to Cuba.

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By |2021-11-09T14:36:33-05:00February 23, 2016|Best Practices, Cuba, Export, Freight Forwarding, U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)|8 Comments
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Top 10 Changes with Cuba as a Result of NEW Revised OFAC and BIS Regulations

As of January 27th, 2016, both OFAC and the BIS have amended their regulations again, and below details the top 10 changes as a result.  The last update was on September 21, 2015, and can be found here.  While the United States maintains its broad embargo on trade with Cuba, OFAC and BIS have released amendments to the Cuban Assets Control Regulations designed to advance President Obama’s policy to engage and empower the Cuban people.  The new changes, which can be found here and here, expand the scope of authorized business and travel by U.S. person and companies inside of Cuba. These changes were put into place to help facilitate engagement between the U.S. and Cuba.  Click here to read FAQ’s related to Cuba from the OFAC.

Below we’ve providing you with a detailed summary of the top 10 significant changes:

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By |2021-11-09T14:37:30-05:00February 23, 2016|Best Practices, Cuba, Export, Freight Forwarding, U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)|Comments Off on Top 10 Changes with Cuba as a Result of NEW Revised OFAC and BIS Regulations
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Freight Forwarder Pays $125,000 Mitigated Penalty – Avoid This & Learn 11 Steps to Exporting

 

Aramex Emirates, LLC, located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.), agreed to pay a $125,000 civil penalty to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s (DOC) Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) for the unlicensed export and reexport to Syria, via the U.A.E., of network devices and software without the required BIS licenses.

The Under Secretary of Commerce Eric L. Hirschhorn commented:

Today’s settlement shows the importance of compliance with U.S. law by foreign freight forwarders handling items subject to U.S. export controls.

The items in question could be used by the Syrian government to monitor Internet activity and block pro-democracy websites as part of its brutal crackdown against the Syrian people.

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By |2022-07-06T14:04:21-04:00May 28, 2014|Best Practices, Events, Export, Freight Forwarding, U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)|Comments Off on Freight Forwarder Pays $125,000 Mitigated Penalty – Avoid This & Learn 11 Steps to Exporting
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Export Penalties Already Total $184 MILLION in 2014 – Want to Learn Who, What, Why & How to Stay Compliant?

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Within just the first nine weeks of 2014, almost $182 million dollars in penalties have been assessed against companies for OFAC and ITAR export violations.  Within those same nine weeks alone, companies have been ordered to pay the Department of Treasury almost $25 million dollars more than was ordered in all of 2013. Simply put, compliance is critical, and non-compliance is costly!
 
Don’t miss this update on export enforcement actions stemming from a busy 2013 and start of 2014. 
By |2019-10-21T09:01:39-04:00April 23, 2014|Best Practices, Export, Freight Forwarding, Investigation, Speaking, U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)|Comments Off on Export Penalties Already Total $184 MILLION in 2014 – Want to Learn Who, What, Why & How to Stay Compliant?
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OTI’s – July 31 is Deadline to Voice Opinion on FMC’s Proposed Changes

Now's the time to apply to become a non vessel operating common carrier (NVOCC) and/or ocean freight forwarder (OFF). FMC has proposed major changes to its regulations. Get your application in now to avoid those changes, or, learn the changes and spend the time to comment on them while you can. Detailed summaries of those changes are below. July 31, 2013 is the cutoff to have your voice heard!

By |2021-11-10T14:16:24-05:00July 5, 2013|Best Practices, Export, Freight Forwarding|Comments Off on OTI’s – July 31 is Deadline to Voice Opinion on FMC’s Proposed Changes
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Careers for Women in Transportation

Do you ever wonder why more women aren't choosing Supply Chain/Transportation as a career? How will jobs in Supply Chain/Transportation evolve over the next few years? What does the logistics function look like within a manufacturing/distribution business? Why is a career in supply chain a good choice? Find out answers to these questions and more by joining us on...

By |2022-07-06T13:51:16-04:00February 4, 2013|Customs Broker, Events, Freight Forwarding, Import, OWIT, Speaking, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)|Comments Off on Careers for Women in Transportation
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FREIGHT FORWARDERS ARRESTED IN MIAMI FOR SHIPPING SONY PLAYSTATIONS

To the dismay of the local international trade community, three international freight forwarding companies and their owners were arrested for illegally exporting merchandise to a company in Paraguay. The company in Paraguay had been designated a "Specially Designated Global Terrorist" by the United States Government. Exporters and forwarding companies sending any cargo to such a company, even Sony Playstation video games, would be a violation of law.

By |2010-03-12T08:10:43-05:00March 12, 2010|Export, Freight Forwarding|Comments Off on FREIGHT FORWARDERS ARRESTED IN MIAMI FOR SHIPPING SONY PLAYSTATIONS
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