security Archives | Customs & International Trade Law Blog

Do You Want to be a “Trusted Trader”? C-TPAT is No Longer Enough

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently published the long awaited Federal Register Notice, dated June 16, 2014, discussing the “Announcement of Trusted Trader Program Test.”

This new “Trusted Trader” program is big news for U.S. and non-resident Canadian importers, and if implemented will combine the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) and Importer Self Assessment (ISA) programs, making ISA extinct. CBP is currently recruiting test companies that have to be willing to go through an 18 month program test. […]

By Jennifer Diaz|2021-11-09T15:02:32-05:00June 25, 2014|Best Practices, CTPAT, Import, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)|1 Comment

What You Missed at the C-TPAT Conference

The Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism is a voluntary government-business initiative that builds cooperative relationships that strengthen and improve overall international supply chain and U.S. border security. C-TPAT is widely recognized as one of the most effective means of providing the highest level of cargo security through close cooperation with international supply chain businesses such as importers, carriers, consolidators, licensed customs brokers, and manufacturers. At CBP's C-TPAT Conference held on January 8-9, 2013, CBP announced major updates to C-TPAT - lucky for you, I've recapped the highlights for you.

By Jennifer Diaz|2021-11-10T14:28:52-05:00January 18, 2013|CTPAT, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)|Comments Off

A Conversation with DHS Secretary Tom Ridge

On January 26, 2012, I attended an exclusive, "off the record dinner for Florida business and community leaders to discuss the growing global national security and economic challenges our country faces today." The guest speaker was none other than the first Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Tom Ridge. I was fascinated by what I heard from Secretary Ridge.

By Jennifer Diaz|2012-02-20T11:03:01-05:00February 20, 2012|U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)|Comments Off

New Export Enforcement Priorities Come with New Names at the Bureau of Industry and Security

On April 14, 2011, in Washington, D.C., David Mills, the new Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement, Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), U.S. Department of Commerce, and his Special Advisor, Bob Rarog, explained the enforcement priorities of BIS, as established by Eric Hirshorn, who was just sworn in as Under Secretary of the U.S. Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) on April 2, 2010, after being appointed by Presdent Obama. This event was part of the American Bar Association's Section of International Law's Export Controls and Economic Sanctions Committee.

By Jennifer Diaz|2011-04-17T13:27:11-04:00April 17, 2011|Export|Comments Off

Notice of Detention of Merchandise by U.S. Customs and Border Protection

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a February 22, 2011 60-Day Notice and Request for Comments regarding its use of a "Notice of Detention". I know, a lot of you are saying to yourselves, "When did CBP starting using Notices of Detention," and my response to you is "That's a darn good question!"

By Jennifer Diaz|2019-10-22T01:23:04-04:00February 24, 2011|Seizures, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)|4 Comments

Does the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Make Us Safer?

I read a fascinating article entitled "HOMELAND SECURITY HASN'T MADE US SAFER" in the January/February issue of Foreign Policy magazine. The article criticized the massive spending of time and money by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Ms. Applebaum aimed her barbs right at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) with the comment: "AS FOR THE TSA, I AM NOT AWARE OF A SINGLE BOMBER OR BOMB PLOT STOPPED BY ITS TIME-WASTING PROCEDURES." Is Ms. Applebaum stating something we all know already, is ignorant of the truth, or somewhere in between?

By Jennifer Diaz|2011-02-17T20:40:54-05:00February 17, 2011|U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA)|3 Comments

Is Your Company Under Investigation by the Federal Government?

Every year, the numerous agencies of the United States Government send out letters to companies putting them on notice that the company is suspected of committing some serious violation. Usually, the letter or notice demands a written response within 30 days or the company will be subject to a penalty or fine. Knowing how to handle such letters, notices, or subpoenas is critical in terminating the investigation successfully, not paying a huge penalty, and even avoiding criminal prosecution.

By Jennifer Diaz|2011-01-19T21:34:05-05:00January 19, 2011|Import, Investigation|1 Comment

Save Money by Admitting Your Export Violations to the U.S. Commerce Department

Sometimes it is beneficial for an exporter to voluntarily self-disclose its export violations to the U.S. Government. Maybe an exportation of an item occurred without first obtaining the necessary license, or maybe the items was shipped to a company overseas other than allowed in a license. Both situations are violations of the Export Administration Regulations, and both violations could result in $250,000 penalites against the exporter. By voluntarily sefl-disclosing the violation, the exporter would reduce, and might even eliminate, such a penalty.

By Jennifer Diaz|2010-12-12T21:06:21-05:00December 12, 2010|Export, U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS)|Comments Off

Is $56 Billion of Your Money For Homeland Security Too Much, Too Little, or Just Right?

On February 1, 2010, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced that the Department's budget for fiscal year 2011 would be $56 billion. This was the first time for the Democratic Obama Administration to formally unveil its budget priorities after taking over from the Republican Bush Administration. Guess what - it's more of the same.

By Jennifer Diaz|2010-02-16T15:34:33-05:00February 16, 2010|U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)|Comments Off

Importer Security Filing or “10+2”

As of January 26, 2010, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will require that all importers comply with the Importer Security Filing (ISF), also popularly known as "10 +2" because of the 10 elements required to be provided to CBP relevant to the importer and 2 elements required to be provided to CBP relevant to the carrier. CBP has announced that as of January 26, 2010, it will also begin to issue penalties of either $5,000 or $10,000 against importers who fail to comply with ISF; something CBP calls its "enforcement phase". Importers who self-file ISF, or their agents, must understand the changes, comply with them, and, when a penalty is issued by CBP, respond in writing to mitigate the penalty.

By Jennifer Diaz|2021-04-09T13:58:44-04:00January 5, 2010|U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)|1 Comment