Summary of CBP’s March 2023 Forced Labor Technical Expo

Summary of CBP’s March 2023 Forced Labor Technical Expo 

CBP held a Forced Labor Technical Expo from March 14-15, comprised of experts and service providers highlighting tools to utilize for supply chain transparency to comply with The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) and the general “reasonable care” obligations of U.S. importers. UFLPA was signed into law December 31, 2021, and seeks to prohibit imports of certain goods from China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, where it has been reported that the Chinese government is using forced labor of Uyghur Muslims and other ethnic and religious minorities in detention camps and factories. For more information about the UFLPA, please see our previous blog articles here and here.  

CBP Data Dashboard  

CBP launched a UFLPA data dashboard where the trade community can now monitor forced labor enforcement by origin, commodity, CBP Center of Excellence and Expertise, and more. See the screenshot of the new dashboard below and note that the countries of export most targeted are NOT China, contrary to popular belief. This is partly due to the fact that most UFLPA enforcement to date has been on solar panels, which may include Chinese-origin raw materials but are generally further manufactured outside of China. Notably, CBP is actively tracking many different types of products across many different industries with raw materials that originate in China and that are further manufactured in other countries for forced labor enforcement. […]

By |2023-03-29T12:06:53-04:00March 29, 2023|China, Forced Labor, International Trade, Reasonable Care, Supply Chain, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)|Comments Off on Summary of CBP’s March 2023 Forced Labor Technical Expo

Customs and Trade Weekly Snapshot

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

 

 

 

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Complying with Russia-Related Sanctions?

As the U.S. government and the governments of many other countries continue to sanction Russia and Belarus for the Russian invasion into Ukraine, companies around the world are grappling with the consequences that comes with the escalating economic restrictions placed on conducting business in the region. Here at Diaz Trade Law we are working to keep you up to date on all relevant sanction activity and what it could mean for you and your business.

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Customs and Trade Law Weekly Snapshot

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

BIS 

  • On January 14, 2022, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) issued a notice of information collection regarding a Defense Production Act requirement for U.S. firms to furnish information to the agency regarding offset agreements exceeding $5,000,000 in value associated with sales of weapon systems or defense related items to foreign countries or foreign firms. BIS is soliciting public comments to help evaluate if the proposed information collection is necessary for the proper functions of the Commerce Department, evaluate the accuracy of their estimate of time and cost burden, evaluate ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected, and to minimize the reporting burden.
    • Comments are due no later than March 15, 2022.

CBP 

DOT 

  • On January 13, 2022, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration […]

Customs and Trade Law Snapshot

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

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) 

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Trading in Wildlife? You May Need a License

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (“CITES”) is an international agreement that strives to ensure that international trade in wild animals and plants does not threaten the survival of those species. CITES was adopted by 80 countries in 1973. The text of the agreement provides for various measures to prevent the illicit trade in goods made of endangered species. Specifically, CITES imposes controls on all import, export, re-export, and introduction from the sea, of species covered by the agreement, to be authorized through a licensing system. The species that fall within the scope of CITES are listed and maintained in three appendices based on the degree of protection required.

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By |2021-10-26T12:23:00-04:00October 26, 2021|Import, International Trade, Penalty, Pre-compliance, Reasonable Care, Supply Chain, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)|Comments Off on Trading in Wildlife? You May Need a License

Customs Issues Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Broker Continuing Education – Comments Open

CBP’s Proposed Rule

On September 10, 2021, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding broker continuing education. In the proposed rule, CBP is proposing mandatory continuing education requirements for individual licensed brokers. CBP underscores the benefits of mandatory continuing education for customs brokers in its proposed rule:

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By |2021-10-13T15:25:44-04:00October 12, 2021|ACE, Best Practices, Customs Broker, Import, International Trade, Pre-compliance, Supply Chain, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)|Comments Off on Customs Issues Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Broker Continuing Education – Comments Open

Customs Valuation 101

What is Valuation and Why Does it Matter? Customs Valuation is a procedure to determine the customs value of imported goods. The customs value is essential to calculate the total duty to be paid on an imported good. Because there was a need for the international community to have a standardized system for valuing imports, many nations became signatories to a World Trade Organization (“WTO”) agreement that established valuation norms known as the Tokyo Round Valuation Code (later amended into the WTO Agreement on Implementation of Article VII of the GATT 1994).

The United States was a signatory to these treaties and currently maintains and enforces a rigorous valuation system. The U.S. Customs valuation methodology (as well as a summary of relevant Customs rulings) are described in detail in the Valuation Encyclopedia. A common customs valuation standard is important because it ensures that:

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Understanding the Computer Export License Exception (APP)

Background on Export Administration Regulations

 Over 95% of the world’s consumers are outside of the United States. Opportunities abound for U.S. companies that export. However, exporting is a privilege and not a right. U.S. exporters have an important responsibility to adhere to U.S. export control laws, including the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”).

Administered by the U.S. Commerce Department, the EAR is a set of regulations which governs whether U.S. persons may export or transfer goods, software, and technology outside of the United States or to non-U.S. citizens. U.S. exporters have an important responsibility to adhere to the EAR. Violations of the EAR carry hefty civil and criminal penalties. Exporters can pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in penalties, lose export privileges, and even be imprisoned.

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Insight on Last 6 Months of Biden/Congress on Trade

A lot has happened in the first 6 months of the Biden administration. Notable developments include (at least temporary) resolutions in the large civil aircraft and digital service tax disputes, consensus around a global minimum corporate tax of 15%, lawsuits pertaining to Section 232, increased export controls enforcement, shifting U.S. policy stances on Cuba, and more. However, the most important developments pertain to the ongoing U.S.-China trade war. The U.S. and China are engaged in ongoing negotiations while tensions have risen, a lawsuit challenging Trump’s imposition of 301 tariffs are underway, and a massive U.S. competitiveness bill is being considered in Congress that could bring back broad China tariff exclusions. Join us for a jam-packed hour where we discuss everything that has happened in the world of U.S. trade policy over the past 6 months, and provide insight into how Biden’s trade policies affect industry.

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