In This December Issue

C-TPAT the Road to Certification

TII Principals Michael Laden and Kelby Woodard will present a half-day seminar on the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) hosted by Global Training Center.

The event will take place on Tuesday, February 25th, at 10:30 am (central time). Mr. Laden and Mr. Woodard will discuss the necessary procedures and policies for attaining C-TPAT Certification.

Advanced registration is required.

For more information or to register for this event please follow this link: Global Training Center - The Road to C-TPAT Certification

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Trade Update

The Trade Innovations team is committed to providing timely, accurate, and unique approaches to customs and supply chain security compliance. With the growing complexity of trade compliance rules and regulations in which companies engaged in global trade must be aware, we are passionate in our efforts to keep the trade community informed. It is in that spirit that we offer this newsletter to you. The Trade Update is published on the first Wednesday of every month.

The Trade Innovations team stands ready to assist you and you with your customs and supply chain security programs. The Principals of Trade Innovations have a broad background in customs compliance, supply chain and global security and we are confident that our approach will fit your unique challenges and opportunities.

We can be reached via e-mail at info@tradeinnovations.com or at 952.975.9099.

Best Regards,

The Trade Innovations Team

Trade News Briefs

Relevant News for Trade Professionals

CBP Trade Symposium Rescheduled

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has announced that the Trade Symposium, postponed in 2013 because of the government shutdown, has been rescheduled. The popular event will be held in the Washington, DC metropolitan area on March 6-7, 2014. More details including the venue, agenda and registration information will be available shortly.

To download an Adobe copy of CBP's Trade Symposium Announcement please follow this link: CBP Trade Symposium 2014 Announcement

CBP Delays Residue Test

CBP has announced that after further consultation with the international trade community, CBP has decided to delay the launch of the Test Concerning Manifesting and Entry of Residue found in Instruments of International Traffic (IITs). This test was announced in the Federal Register Notice (FR Doc. 2013-20878) on August 27, 2013.

The test was to commence on November 25th which is 90 days after the publication of the Federal Register Notice. CBP will work to address remaining trade concerns related to this matter and announce a future test date after further consultation with the trade community.

For more information or to ready the announcement please follow this link: CBP Delays Residue Test

ICC Survey on Customs and Trade Facilitation

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has created a 10-question survey on real world issues business experiences in import and export that add cost, time and uncertainty to global supply chains. The goal of this survey is that it be circulated to as many traders of all sizes as possible in as many countries as possible to get as broad of a sample as possible. The survey is open until December 31. Please consider taking a moment to complete the survey.

To participate in the ICC survey please follow this link: ICC Survey on Customs and Trade Facilitation

CBP Issues ACE PSC Notice

CBP has issued a Federal Register Notice concerning Post-Summary Corrections (PSC) to Entry Summaries Filed in Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) pursuant to the ESAR IV Test: Modifications and Clarifications. The changes will become effective December 19, 2013.
The notice announces modifications and clarifications pertaining to CBP's Entry Summary, Accounts and Revenue (ESAR IV) test program concerning the processing of PSC's to entry summaries that are filed in the ACE. (more follows)

To read the entire article or download an Adobe copy of the Federal Register Notice please follow this link: CBP Issues ACE PSC Notice

Honey Broker Sentenced to 3 Years

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has announced that a California woman has been sentenced to three (3) years in federal prison for misrepresenting the origin on Chinese honey. Hung Yi Lin, aka "Katy Lin," 42, of Temple City, Calif., pleaded guilty in May to three counts of violating U.S. importation laws by falsely declaring that the honey shipments contained sugars, syrups and apple juice concentrate to avoid $39.2 million in anti-dumping duties. (more follows)

To read the entire article or the ICE Press Release please follow this link: Honey Broker Sentenced to 3 Years

CBP Establishes User Fee Advisory Committee

CBP has created a User Fee Advisory Committee. The Committee will advise the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on issues related to the performance of airport and seaport inspections coinciding with the assessment of an agriculture, customs, or immigration user fee. This guidance will include, but not be limited to, the time period during which such services should be performed, the proper number and deployment of inspection officers, the level of fees, and the appropriateness of any proposed fee. Members are appointed for a two-year term. (more follows)

To read the entire article and/or see the names of the appointees please follow this link: CBP Establishes User Fee Advisory Committee

CBP and CPSC Seize 200K Toy Dolls

CBP and Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) officers have seized more than 200,000 toy dolls produced in China for having high levels of phthalates, a group of banned chemical compounds.

CBP's Commercial Targeting and Analysis Center (CTAC) targeted the shipments beginning in April because of the potential that the products presented a safety threat to the American public, particularly children, and contained items prohibited in the U.S. Although dispersed across the county, officials flagged the shipments as high risk after CTAC identified key commonalities in the hazardous products.

To read the entire press release please follow this link: CBP and CPSC Seize 200K Toy Dolls

Enforcer? Facilitator? Or Both?

By Michael Laden

Nominee Gil Kerlikowske

R. Gil Kerlikowske is President Obama's nominee for the next Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Mr. Kerlikowske 64 is currently awaiting Senate Confirmation and as this piece made its way to cyberspace those hearings have not yet been scheduled.

Mr. Kerlikowske's enforcement credentials run long and deep, he has served as Police Chief in four (4) cities, including Seattle, WA, and has worked in the U.S. Department of Justice. Prior to his nomination as CBP's next Commissioner, Kerlikowske was the Director of the Office of National Control Drug Policy (aka "Drug Czar").

Kerlikowske's time as Chief of Police in Seattle was not without some controversy. His department's slow response in 2001 to the Seattle Mardi Gras riots was widely criticized. One man was killed and more than seventy others injured during the melee. Shortly after the riots, Mr. Kerlikowske received a vote of no-confidence from the Seattle Police Officers' Guild. (more follows)

To read the entire article or download an Adobe copy please follow this link: Enforcer? Facilitator? Or Both?

We strive to keep the articles and commentary in our newsletter relevant and brief to accommodate your busy schedule. Please feel free to share it with your colleagues by clicking on the "Forward to a Friend" icon found at the bottom of this page. We appreciate your feedback and we are available at your convenience to discuss the impact the ideas discussed may have on your company.

Sincerely,

The Trade Innovations Team