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Hapag-Lloyd has changed it's tariff rules concerning undeclared
hazardous cargo. The new rule reads as follows:
SHIPPER shall further be assessed a U.S. $1000.00 penalty for
failure to properly offer and/or declare Hazardous Materials /
Dangerous Goods at the time of booking, if such shipments load to a
vessel prior to discovery and notification to the CARRIER of the
undeclared material.
Buenos Aires, Argentina, 41st
Operational Container Security
Initiative Port to Target and Pre-Screen Cargo Destined for U.S.
WASHINGTON, D.C.— United States
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Robert C. Bonner and
the government of Argentina announced the port of Buenos Aires as the
41st operational Container Security Initiative (CSI) port
to target and pre-screen maritime cargo containers destined for U.S.
ports.
U.S. Ambassador to Argentina Lino
Gutierrez and Dr. Alberto R. Abad, Federal Administrator of National
Revenue of the Argentine Republic, signed the declaration of
principles on May 9, 2005.
“The Container Security Initiative is
a deterrent to terrorists seeking to use containerized cargo as a
conduit for terrorism within the maritime environment. Having CSI
ports, such as the one in Buenos Aires, is making U.S. borders more
secure and more efficient,” said Commissioner Bonner. “CSI is a way
of addressing the threat to global trade making it more secure against
terrorist exploitation and Argentina was the first South American
country to agree to participate in CSI. CBP will continue to cast out
the CSI security blanket to additional foreign ports.”
CBP will deploy a team of officers to
be stationed at the port of Buenos Aires to target maritime containers
destined for the United States. Argentine Customs officials, working
with CBP officers, will be responsible for
screening any containers identified as a potential terrorist risk.
Currently, there are 41 operational
CSI ports in Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and North and
South America. Approximately 75 percent of
cargo containers headed to the U.S. originate in or are transshipped
from CSI ports.
Under the Container Security
Initiative, CBP has entered into bilateral partnerships to identify
high-risk cargo containers before they are loaded on vessels
destined for the United States. Today, a total of 25 administrations
have committed to join CSI and are at various stages of
implementation.
“When first initiated, CSI was a
revolutionary idea – to engage foreign governments to work with us to
extend the U.S. zone to security outward, so that our borders are not
the first line of defense against the threat of terrorism, and to
secure and protect trade lanes from foreign seaports to the U.S.,“
Commissioner Bonner said. “Now CSI is an accepted model of
international cooperation to protect the global supply chain against
terrorism.”
CBP’s goal is to have 50 operational
CSI ports by the end of 2006. At that time, approximately 90 percent
of all transatlantic and transpacific cargo imported into the United
States will be subjected to pre-screening.
CSI will continue to expand to strategic locations around the world.
The World Customs Organization
(WCO), the European Union (EU), and the G8 support CSI expansion and
have adopted resolutions implementing CSI security measures introduced
at ports throughout the world.
Return to Newsletter Front Page
Oman to
Participate in Container Security Initiative to Screen Cargo
Destined for
U.S.
Washington, D.C.
—U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Robert C.
Bonner announced that Oman will participate in the Container Security
Initiative (CSI) a program that will enable
all maritime cargo destined for the U.S. through the port of Salalah
to be targeted and pre-screened for terrorists and terrorist
weapons.
“CSI is a key initiative designed to
prevent global maritime cargo from being exploited by terrorist intent
on inflicting harm in America and other nations of the world. Oman
has taken steps to support the Container Security Initiative to
safeguard global maritime trade,” said Commissioner Bonner. “The CSI
security blanket continues to expand and strengthen as it encompasses
the port of Salalah.”
The signing
brings large-scale and sophisticated radiological detection equipment
to identify nuclear material under the Energy Department’s MegaPorts
Initiative at the port of Salalah.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Assistant Commissioner E. Keith Thomson, Office of International
Affairs, and Lieutenant General Malik bin Sulaiman al-Ma'amari,
Inspector General of the Royal Oman Police as well as Eleanor Melamed,
Deputy Director, Second Line of Defense Program,
Department
of Energy (DOE), signed a declaration of principles on November 19,
2005.
In addition to Oman
screening and targeting high-risk containers, the Port of Dubai also
became CSI operational on March 26, 2005.
CSI is continuing to expand to strategic locations around the world.
CSI, the
screening and targeting of containers at a foreign seaport, did not
exist prior to the terrorist attacks of 2001. On average, every day
about 25,000 seagoing containers are offloaded at America’s seaports.
Commissioner Bonner, confirmed by Congress shortly after 9/11, made
maritime cargo security one of his top priorities. The Container
Security Initiative was launched in January 2002. It is a
revolutionary and dynamic initiative to secure maritime cargo
shipments against the terrorist threat.
Currently, there are 41 operational
CSI ports in Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and North and
South America. Approximately 75 percent of
cargo containers headed to the U.S. originate in or are transshipped
from CSI ports.
Under the Container Security
Initiative, CBP has entered into bilateral partnerships to identify
high-risk cargo containers before they are loaded on vessels
destined for the United States. Today, a total of 24 additional
administrations have committed to join CSI and are at various stages
of implementation.
CSI is an accepted model of
international cooperation to protect the global supply chain against
terrorism. CBP’s goal is to have 50 operational CSI ports by the end
of 2006. At that time, approximately 90 percent of all transatlantic
and transpacific cargo imported into the United States will be
subjected to pre-screening.
The World Customs Organization (WCO),
the European Union (EU), and the G8, support CSI expansion and have
adopted resolutions implementing CSI security measures introduced at
ports throughout the world.
Return to Newsletter Front Page
AAPA Policy Position on
Seaport Security
(pdf)
A description of
AAPA’s public policy objectives regarding security and an overview of
the challenges – including funding challenges – facing ports as they
implement new security measures.
Port Security Fees
- October 12, 2005
Transpacific Stabilization Agreement (TSA)
members to adjust 2006 rates
November
21, 2005
CONTAINER shipping lines with services that run between Asia and the
US recently wrapped up discussions relating to the 2006 market outlook
and potential 2006-2007 contract rate adjustments that they say will
help cover soaring operating and network costs.
According to a release, member lines in the Transpacific Stabilization
Agreement (TSA) expect rising inland rail and trucking charges, cargo
and equipment imbalances and the network effects of inland
infrastructure to add at least US$150 per FEU to their costs for
port-to-port west coast service; $350 per FEU for intermodal mini land
bridge (MLB) and inland point intermodal (IPI) shipments; and $400 per
FEU for east coast all-water service, including reverse inland point
intermodal (RIPI) moves. Those costs represent a minimum which lines
say they intend to recover from customers in upcoming 2006-07 contract
negotiations, and do not include fuel, terminal handling, Panama Canal
transit, documentation or other costs already addressed by separate
charges.
The group said it estimates that inland transport costs alone will
increase 25 per cent or more in 2006 as railroads add locomotives and
as truckers upgrade their vehicles and try to attract more drivers
back to the industry. Equipment repositioning costs are expected to
rise 11 per cent, due to increased volumes, tighter port and rail
free-time/detention rules, and periodic rail embargoes of empty
containers. As worldwide vessel charter rates ease, many transpacific
carriers still pay premium rates under long-term charters negotiated
during a crisis environment in 2003-04.
TSA
members include: American President Lines, Ltd, Hyundai Merchant
Marine Co, Ltd, CMA CGM, Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd (K Line), Cosco
Container Lines, Ltd, Mitsui OSK Lines, Ltd, Evergreen Marine Corp
(Taiwan), Ltd, Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK Line), Hanjin Shipping Co,
Ltd, Orient Overseas Container Line, Inc, Hapag Lloyd Container Line
and Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp.
(Asia
Shipping News)
Return to Newsletter Front Page
The Brink's Co. confirms $1.1
billion sale
of BAX Global
Richmond, Va.-based security
firm The Brink's Co. has agreed to sell its freight-forwarding arm BAX
Global to Deutsche Bahn AG for about $1.1 billion in cash.
The announcement, made to the
New York stock exchange early Wednesday morning, confirmed recent
press speculation linking the Irvine, Calif. based
BAX Global with a
takeover by the German state-owned rail operator. BAX Global has
nearly 500 offices worldwide with approximately 12,000 employees. In
2004, BAX Global posted revenue of $2.44 billion and an
operating
profit of $56.2 million.
Deutsche Bahn is also the
parent company of international forwarding giant Schenker.
"BAX fits our strategy
perfectly and is an ideal complement to our logistics subsidiary
Schenker. With these two companies, DB AG is now one of the world's
leading companies in the transportation and logistics sector," said
Hartmut Mehdorn Deutsche Bahn's chairman and chief executive officer.
As a result of the BAX Global acquisition, Deutsche Bahn said
its
transportation and logistics division DB Logistics will increase
its annual
revenue to just under 15 billion euros (about $17 billion)
from $2.4 billion in 2004. "With BAX, we will significantly expand our
position in air and sea freight, which are particularly important for
the global supply chains that are constantly growing in demand," said
Thomas Held, chairman and CEO of Schenker. "At the same time, we will
substantially enhance our presence on the North American market and
particularly in Asia. In contract logistics, the business of the
future, we will also be able to position ourselves even more
effectively. Last but not least, the new setup will further strengthen
our leading position in European land transport, since we provide BAX
customers in the U.S. with direct access to all the markets in
Europe."
The Brinks Co. said its net
proceeds after taxes and expenses related to the transaction are
expected to be approximately $900 million. "This sale will mark an
important financial and strategic milestone for The Brink's Co. Going
forward, our company will be focused entirely on security-related
services," said Michael Dan, chairman, president and CEO of The
Brink's Co.
The two parties expect to
conclude the transaction by the end of the year, subject to conditions
and regulatory approvals, including reviews under the Hart Scott
Rodino Act and the European Union's laws and regulations, as well as
the approval of the German Ministry for Transport.
Source - American Shipper
Return to Newsletter Front Page
Border Wait Times, as provided by Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)
and Customs Border Protection (CBP).
Regular updates can be found here:
This link will provide Canadian Border Crossing Updates
http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/general/times/menu-e.html
This link provides information for crossing Northern and Southern
Border Points
http://apps.cbp.gov/bwt/
CITA Approves Duty-Free Treatment
for Sierra Leone Textile Articles
22 Nov 2005, ST&R
The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) has
determined, following consultations with the government of Sierra
Leone, that hand-loomed fabrics, hand-loomed articles (e.g., rugs,
scarves, place mats, and table cloths), handmade articles made from
hand-loomed fabrics, and certain folklore articles that are produced
in and exported from Sierra Leone are eligible for duty-free treatment
under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). However, such
products must be accompanied by an AGOA export visa for grouping 9
(handmade, hand-loomed, or folklore articles) issued by the government
of Sierra Leone to be eligible for such treatment.
As a result, CITA has directed US Customs and Border Protection (CBP),
effective November 28, to allow the duty-free entry of such products
of Sierra Leone under HTSUS 9819.11.27 when accompanied by an
appropriate export visa.
Return to Newsletter Front Page
Trade Talks Update: China; Cotton; Korea; Thailand; Peru;
Africa
Bush Talks Trade with China
22 Nov 2005, ST&R
President Bush met with Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen
Jiabao on November 20 in Beijing to discuss a wide spectrum of
bilateral issues. Some of the more relevant economic and trade matters
that were considered during the meeting included China’s efforts to
protect US intellectual property rights (IPR), China’s move toward a
more flexible exchange rate system, and market access for US beef and
other products. In a statement issued following the meeting, President
Hu vowed to “unswervingly press ahead with reform of the exchange rate
mechanism,” although he did not elaborate as to the timing of such
action. For his part, Premier Wen recognized that unchecked IPR
violations would have a negative impact on the Chinese economy over
the long term and described to President Bush a number of IPR
enforcement actions that the Chinese government has carried out in
recent months.
Return to Newsletter Front Page
African, European Countries Seek
Early Doha Round Action on Cotton
On November 18, four African
countries and the European Union (EU) made new proposals for
liberalizing trade in cotton under the Doha Round. Among other things,
Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, and Mali proposed that (a) all exports of
cotton and cotton products from least-developed countries (LDCs)
receive duty- and quota-free treatment, (b) all export subsidies for
cotton be eliminated by the end of 2005, (c) all cotton subsidies be
eliminated by the end of 2008, with an 80% cut by the end of 2006, and
(d) an emergency fund be established to compensate poor
cotton-producing countries for low international prices. The EU said
it was prepared to accept, immediately upon implementation of a Doha
Round agreement, the elimination of (a) all duties and quantitative
restrictions on imports of cotton, (b) the most trade-distorting
domestic support for cotton, and (c) all forms of export subsidies on
cotton.
Return to Newsletter Front Page
Comoros to Join African FTA in January
The Xinhua news agency
reports that Comoros, an island nation in the Indian Ocean, plans to join
on January 1, 2006, an FTA currently comprised of 11 member countries of
the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). The FTA
provides for duty- and quota-free trade among Burundi, Djibouti, Egypt,
Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Rwanda, Sudan, Zambia, and Zimbabwe,
with Uganda and Seychelles also planning to join in 2006. COMESA member
countries are hoping to launch a bloc-wide customs union by 2008.
Trade Notes:
ASEAN; China; Chile
21 Nov 2005, ST&R
US Seeks to Boost Trade Ties with
ASEAN
On the sidelines of the APEC summit last week, the US and the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) agreed to implement
various measures to strengthen bilateral cooperation on political,
security, economic, social, and development issues. Among other
things, the two sides pledged to conclude a Trade and Investment
Framework Agreement (TIFA) and enhance economic cooperation in areas
such as trade and investment facilitation. ASEAN is comprised of
Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines,
Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
The region-wide TIFA, once
concluded, could accelerate the negotiation of FTAs between the US and
ASEAN members. In October 2002, President Bush announced the
Enterprise for ASEAN Initiative (EAI), which offers the prospect of
bilateral FTAs to ASEAN countries that are committed to economic
reforms and openness. Bush said each country could move toward an FTA
at its own pace but would first have to conclude a TIFA, and to date
only Brunei, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Malaysia have
met that requirement. With China, India, Japan, and South Korea each
pursuing FTAs with ASEAN, there is speculation that the US is seeking
to boost its own ties to the group so it isn’t left out of regional
trade integration efforts. Washington is currently negotiating a
bilateral FTA with Thailand and is expected to decide by the end of
the year whether to pursue a deal with Malaysia.
Return to Newsletter Front Page
The Office of the United
States Trade Representative
United States Government Critical
of New Canadian Government Lumber
11/24/2005
Washington, DC - US Trade Representative Rob Portman and Secretary of
Commerce Carlos Gutierrez responded to the announcement by the
Canadian Government of a $C 1.5 billion (approximately $US 1.28
billion) package of assistance for its forest products industry. The
United States Government will consult with industry sources to gather
information about the potential impact of the subsidies, which would
be in addition to the subsidies to the Canadian softwood lumber
industry the Commerce Department has previously identified.
"Today's
announcement is disappointing. Only days after we fully complied with
a NAFTA decision, Canada responds by announcing huge new subsidies.
Canada's actions illustrate what the United States has been saying all
along: the Canadian industry is the beneficiary of subsidies that
create an un-level playing field to the detriment of the U.S.
industry," said Ambassador Portman. "While we continue to believe
that a long-term, durable settlement is the only way to resolve this
dispute, Canada's actions complicate our attempts to reach a
negotiated solution."
The new
subsidy announcement follows a decision earlier this week by the
Department of Commerce in which it found that the subsidy margin
during the period of investigation used for the current countervailing
duty order was de minimis. Those findings were made in response to a
direction from a dispute settlement panel established under Chapter 19
of the North American Free Trade Agreement.
"The
United States is very disappointed over Canada's announcement," said
Secretary Gutierrez. "The contrast is startling - at the same time a
NAFTA panel has directed the Department of Commerce to find that
Canadian subsidies are de minimis, Canada announces over a billion
dollars in aid. This just goes to show that Canada will continue to
funnel vast amounts of assistance to its industry. We will continue to
insist that there subsidies be eliminated by all means at our
disposal.
Return to Newsletter Front Page
Saudi Arabia to Join WTO on
December 11
14 Nov 2005, ST&R
The WTO
General Council approved Saudi Arabia’s accession package on November
11, and a Saudi official signed the protocol of accession the same
day. As a result, the kingdom will become the WTO’s 149th member on
December 11, allowing it to fully participate in the December 13-18
Hong Kong ministerial meeting.
The WTO
notes that as part of its accession negotiations, Saudi Arabia agreed
to:
• review
a fee charged for the authentication of trade documents and bring it
into conformity with WTO rules within two years of accession;
•
eliminate any non-tariff measures that cannot be justified under WTO
rules while maintaining the right to restrict the importation and
exportation of a certain number of goods and services in order to
protect public morals, the life and health of the population, national
security interests, etc.;
• review
the list of banned imports at least once a year and remove items whose
importation would not compromise the kingdom’s legitimate objectives;
•
implement in full from the date of accession the WTO Agreements on
Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, Technical
Barriers to Trade, and the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary
Measures;
• reduce,
by the end of a ten-year implementation period, average bound tariff
levels for agricultural and non-agricultural products to 12.4% and
10.5%, respectively;
• allow
foreign insurance companies to open and operate direct branches in
Saudi Arabia;
• permit
the commercial presence of banks in the form of a locally incorporated
joint-stock company or a branch of an international bank;
• allow,
within three years from accession, up to 70% foreign equity ownership
in the telecommunications sector; and
• phase
out restrictions on the distribution of goods inside the country over
a three-year transition period.
Return to Newsletter Front Page
Statement
from USTR Spokeswoman Neena Moorjani on Interim Wine Agreement between
the U.S. and European Community
11/23/2005
"The
United States and the European Community signed an interim agreement,
in the form of an exchange of letters, related to wine trade between
the United States and the EC. This exchange of letters is the
precursor to the broader Wine Agreement, announced by USTR on
September 15, 2005, and ensures that U.S. wine exports to the EU will
not be disrupted pending the signing and entry into force of the Wine
Agreement. Specifically, under the exchange of letters the EC will
continue to recognize U.S. wine-making practice, the United States
will accept EC wine-making practices, and EC wine imported into the
United States does not have to be accompanied by a certification
attesting that the wine is made in accordance with U.S. wine-making
practices. EC procedures to consider signing the Wine Agreement are
currently under way and a final decision on it is expected by the end
of the year."
Are you thinking of
exporting to another country?
If you are new to the exporting
world and haven’t shipped before, please be aware of the Known and Unknown
Shipper requirements that could affect the transit times of your
shipments.
Known and Unknown shipper
security procedures are requirements for every airline, integrator and
forwarder that moves cargo commercially on a domestic or international
basis to and from the USA. These procedures were put into effect after
September 11th, 2001.
Passenger carriers can no longer
accept any cargo from unknown shippers. Since your freight must move on a
cargo only plane, you may experience delays.
If you haven’t exported before
then you will be considered an Unknown Shipper and your freight will move
on a cargo only plane. In order to become a known shipper, M.E. Dey must
visit your facility and do an on-site verification.
If you plan to start exporting
please call M.E. Dey in advance of your first shipment and we will set up
your on-site verification.
Return to Newsletter Front Page
Wisconsin Exports and
Exporters
Exporters are not required to report
information on their international activities to the Wisconsin Department
of Commerce. Data on the state's exports by product category and by
destination originates with the U.S. Census Bureau.
Click
here for
Wisconsin's top 10 export markets and the top 10 products shipped abroad.
http://commerce.state.wi.us/IE/IE-ExportData.html
HLB
INTERNATIONAL'S "DOING BUSINESS IN" SERIES
http://www.hlbi.com/DBI_list.asp
The really big accounting firms have clients in many countries, and since
much of what they do involves consulting, they have to know each country's
economy inside and out. There are several accounting firms that have put
country reports on their Web sites, and one that seems very thorough is
HLB International's "Doing
Business In" series. There are reports here on every country
from Argentina to Vietnam, and they're very detailed indeed. You'll find
an overview of the country, with information about its geography,
population, political institutions, language and currency. Digging deeper,
you'll find information about foreign investment (including relevant
treaties and laws), labor matters, setting up a company, and taxation
issues.
Return to Newsletter Front Page
Foreign Regulatory Changes That Could Affect
US Exports
21 Nov 2005, ST&R
According to
the Department of Commerce’s (DOC) National Institute of Standards and
Technology (NIST), the WTO has been notified by the following countries of
proposed regulatory changes that may affect US exports of the products
indicated.
• Argentina
– bicycles
• Armenia –
types of rolls designed for concrete strengthening, including hardened
steel, carbon steel, round compartment, with diameter less than 14mm,
non-smoothed and non-imposed wire made from carbon steel, up to 0.25% and
0.6% or more carbon mass included, and others
•
Switzerland – medicines
•
Switzerland – complementary and herbal medicinal products
• Tunisia –
concrete
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DECEMBER WORLD HOLIDAYS & SEMINARS |
5 -
H.M. The King's Birthday (Thailand)
6 - St. Nicholas Day
(International)
8 - Bodhi Day - Buddha's
Enlightenment (Buddhist)
10 -
Constitution Day (Thailand)
12 - Virgin of Guadalupe (Mexico)
21 - Winter Solstice
(International)
25 - Christmas (Christian, Roman
Catholic, International)
26 - Boxing Day (Canada, United
Kingdom)
26 - Hanukkah (Jewish - Dec. 26,
2005 - Jan. 2, 2006)
26 - Kwanzaa (African-American -
Dec. 26, 2005 - Jan 1, 2006)
31 - New Year's Eve (United
States, International)
Return to Newsletter Front Page
UPCOMING SEMINARS
International Credit Executives - ICE
November 16, 2005 "An All-Day
Look at Doing Business in India" & Silent Auction"
Various
Speakers
Click here for information and to
register!
http://www.icewi.org/event.shtml
Who is attending this
meeting? Click here to find out!
http://www.icewi.org/attendees.shtml
Milwaukee Athletic Club
Thursday, December 1, 2005 -
Past Presidents’ Night
758 North Broadway Milwaukee,
WI
Registration Form
http://www.mwta.com/Events/Forms/RegForm.htm
More Information http://mwta.com/Newsletters/December05.pdf
Click for Map
3:00 –
5:30 p.m.
Program I - The Joys and
Challenges of International Business Careers
International Sales – Amy
Germershausen, Account Manager, International Malting Company –
US/Canada
International Logistics – Carrie Fix, Manager of Global Business
Development,
M.E. Dey & Company, Inc.
International Banking – Bruce Glaub,
Vice President for Global Trade Services, U.S. Bank
International Law – Masud Khan,
Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren S.C
International Consulting – John
Shank, Access International Markets, Ltd.
International Marketing – John
Patneaude, International Marketing Rep, DCI Marketing
Expatriate Experiences - Peace
Corps –
Al Liu, Director of Culture and Communications, Alterra Coffee
Roasters
WISCONSIN ROOM –
8TH FLOOR 5:00–6:00 p.m
Collaboration and Networking
SUPERIOR ROOM –
2ND FLOOR 5:00–8:00 p.m.
2006 – Biting, Barking, or
Whimpering
Chris Kuehl –
Armada Corporate
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