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On July 5, US
Customs will extend enforcement of rules that require that all
solid wood packing material stamped (showing that it has been heat
treated) to dunnage.
If not properly
marked the entire container is subject to being returned to the
origin. |
Tighter security
rules for air cargo
The Transportation
Security Administration (TSA) published new regulations covering air
cargo security last Friday. The new regulations are designed to
strengthen security concerns for the 50,000 tons of air cargo that
moves aboard passenger and cargo aircraft daily.
Highlights
include:
-
 Consolidation of
approximately 4,000 private industry Known Shipper lists into one
central database managed by TSA.
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Requirement of
background checks for approximately 51,000 off-airport freight
forwarder employees.
-
Extending secure
areas of airports to include ramps and cargo facilities and
extending requirement of background checks to roughly 50,000
employees in those facilities.
-
Hiring of an
additional 300 air cargo inspectors for domestic cargo inspections.
-
Expansion of the
current "risk based" targeting program.
-
Increased surprise
inspections of cargo and handling facilities.
-
Expanded use of
canine explosives detection teams in air cargo facilities
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Vietnam and US agree trade deal
 Vietnam has formally agreed a trade pact with the US, paving the
way for Vietnam to join the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Vietnam has agreed to drop a plan to invest
$4bn in its textile industry
United States in Violation of WTO
rules
The European
Commission issued a notice on May 3, 2006, announcing that
additional customs duties will be reintroduced as of May 16, 2006,
as a result of a World Trade Organization (WTO) confirmation that
the American Jobs Creation Act (Jobs Act) of 2004 provides federal
tax subsidies to U.S. exporters in violation of WTO rules. |
A Frequently Asked Questions Guide to Export
Licensing Requirements for Commercial Items
Controlled Items to Ballistic Missile Facility in Iran
On February 2, 2005, the U.S. Attorney for the District of
Connecticut announced an indictment charging Mohammed Farajbakhsh,
Hamid Fatholoomy and their U.A.E.-based companies Diamond
Technology and Akeed Trading with conspiring to illegally export
goods to Iran via the U.A.E. The defendants were alleged to have
shipped computer goods from a U.S. supplier to an entity
affiliated with Iran’s ballistic missile program, as well as
satellite communications equipment and other goods. In April 2005,
Farajbakhsh pled guilty to one count of conspiracy and one count
of violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. In
September 2005, Farajbakhsh was sentenced to seven months in
prison and two years probation. OEE, the Defense Criminal
Investigative Service (DCIS) and ICE jointly conducted this
investigation. |
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T R A N S P O R T A T I O N |
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Down but not out
Journal of Commerce
Monday, May 22,
2006
By: BILL
MONGELLUZZO
For months, U.S.
importers had been looking forward to this year's contract
negotiations with trans-Pacific container carriers. With big, new
ships adding capacity, shippers expected favorable supply and
demand to produce sharply lower rates.
But now that many
major contracts have been negotiated and signed, a somewhat
different picture has emerged. Importers say they're securing rate
reductions, as expected, but that there is no method this year to
the madness that normally surrounds trans-Pacific rate
negotiations. |
Rail jams could threaten peak season, says Hanjin exec
NEWARK, N.J. --
Poor rail service and congestion at intermodal rail centers pose
the biggest threat of to the smooth flow of international
shipments during the coming peak shipping season, according to
Hanjin Shipping's top U.S. executive.
APL warns on U.S. gridlock
A top executive
of APL, the world's seventh-largest container carrier, warned that
the aging U.S. transportation infrastructure can't keep up with
relentless growth in world trade. |
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S
E M I N A R S |
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ACE Exchange Conference Registration NOW
OPEN!
August 15-17, 2006 Chicago, Illinois
U. S. Customs
and Border Protection Invites Importers, Brokers and Truck
Carriers to the ACE EXCHANGE August 15-17, 2006 in Chicago, IL.
Registration
for this event is free.
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/about/modernization/
ace_ex_conf/ace_conf_registration_lp.xml
Registration is
now open
The first
segment of this conference will focus on issues important to
importers and brokers (August 15th and 16th). The second half of
the conference will cover topics of interest to the truck carrier
community (August 16th and 17th).
Germany is on holiday
June 5th and June 15th |
Cost Savings for
Wisconsin Firms
Wanting to Export to Libya
Libyan US Enterprise Conference in Washington, D.C. June 21-22
Wisconsin firms interested in exploring export opportunities to
Libya, but don't know where to start, should consider attending
the 2nd Libyan – US Enterprise Conference in Washington, DC June
21-22, 2006. The organizers of the event are offering a discount
of over 50 percent on the registration fee for Wisconsin
attendees.
The Libyan government
is bringing 100+ delegates from different industries and
government agencies.
To
register, please fill out the form available on-line at
www.new-fields.com/libyaforum/reg.pdf. Indicate prominently
that you are from Wisconsin and taking advantage of the discounted
$985 rate. Fax your completed registration form to (202) 478
2989. For more information on the event, please visit
www.new-fields.com/libyaforum/index.htm or call Melanie Lopez,
Project Manager - New Fields Exhibitions, Inc.,
melanie@new-fields.com, ph: (202) 536 5632. |
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