Here is a recap of the latest customs and international trade law news:       Customs and Border Protection (CBP)   CBP warns of an increase in impersonation scams. Bad actors are posing as CBP employees and demanding payment or sensitive information.  The agency advises that if you receive one of these calls, hang up and report the call to the Federal Trade Commission.   CBP said that it was recently notified of a Linux security vulnerability that potentially affects the trade community.  CBP recommends the immediate roll back t ..read more

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) investigates allegations of dumping or unfair foreign subsidies, but they also have the authority to investigate potential violations of any imposed Anti-Dumping or Countervailing Duties (AD/CVD) under the Enforce and Protect Act (EAPA) of 2015. Customs describes EAPA as a “multi-party, transparent, administrative proceeding where parties can both participate in and learn the outcome of the investigation. It also maintains due process for parties to the investigation by providing an option for them to request administrative and judicial reviews of CBP’s dete ..read more

Here is a recap of the latest customs and international trade news:        Customs and Border Protection (CBP)   Operational update for Port of Baltimore: CBP said ocean carriers originally planning to unload at the Port of Baltimore must proceed to another U.S. port in the aftermath of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse on March 26.  CBP published a federal register notice that makes changes to the Global Entry and SENTRI programs. Highlights:  The Global Entry fee will be increased from $100 to $120  The total SENTRI fee will be dec ..read more

Last week, FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) announced the release of its Searchable Tobacco Products Database. This tool provides easy access to a list of legally marketable tobacco products within the United States, integrating a user-friendly design with sophisticated search functionalities, making navigation and information retrieval very easy. The FDA has committed to monthly updates, ensuring the availability of current and accurate product information. FDA categorizes listed tobacco products into three groups: New Tobacco Products: products that have successfully navigated t ..read more

At CBP’s 2024 Trade Facilitation and Cargo Security Summit (“the Summit”) this week, panelists shared some pending developments in Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (“UFLPA”) enforcement. The UFLPA establishes a rebuttable presumption that the importation of any goods mined, produced, or manufactured, wholly or in part, in the Xinjiang region of China, or produced by an entity on the UFLPA Entity List, is prohibited under U.S. forced labor law. Panelists indicated that “more than 10” new entities would be placed on the Entity List in the coming months. The government has received criticism re ..read more

Here is a recap of the latest customs and international trade news:               Customs and Border Protection (CBP)   CBP issued cybersecurity incident procedures guidelines for brokers.  The guidance explains the process and roles and responsibilities of CBP and the brokerage community on how to facilitate the importation, entry, and entry summary process, in the event of a cybersecurity incident affecting a broker.   CBP easter egg advisory: CBP reminds the traveling public that cascarones (confet ..read more

Ford Motor Company has agreed to pay $365 million for allegedly misclassifying and understating the value of hundreds of thousands of vehicles. According to the Department of Justice, Ford engaged in a scheme to avoid higher duties by misclassifying cargo vans. Between 2009 and 2013, the company imported Transit Connect cargo vans into the United States but presented them to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) with temporary seats and other features to make them appear to be passenger vehicles. The seats were never intended to carry passengers and Ford removed them as part of post-importation ..read more

Essential deadlines under the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022 (MoCRA) come into effect July 1, 2024. MoCRA brings significant changes to the cosmetic industry and will impact your company if you manufacture, distribute, or pack a cosmetic product in the United States. What is Required Under MoCRA MoCRA replaces the previous Cosmetic Act, which had not been updated since 1938. New MoCRA requirements include: FDA registration for cosmetics facilities Product listings for each cosmetic product Adverse event reporting Safety substantiation Compliance with Good Manufacturing Prac ..read more

Mohamed Daoud Ghacham, a 40-year-old executive from California has been sentenced to 48-months in prison for customs fraud. Ghacham, who was at the helm of a Paramount-based clothing wholesale company, engaged in a deceitful scheme that allowed his business to sidestep paying millions in customs duties on imported garments. United States District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong handed down the sentence, which also includes a restitution payment of $6,390,781. The fraudulent operation involved importing clothing from China and presenting U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) with a fraudul ..read more

On March 6, 2024, the Department of Commerce, Department of the Treasury, and Department of Justice issued a tri-seal compliance note titled: “Obligations of foreign-based persons to comply with U.S. sanctions and export control laws.” The note: Highlights the applicability of U.S. sanctions and export control laws to persons and entities located abroad; Outlines the enforcement mechanisms that are available for the U.S. government to hold non-U.S. persons accountable for violations of such laws; and Provides an overview of compliance considerations for non-U.S. companies and compliance measu ..read more