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C U S T O M S
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CBP's
Automated Trade Processing System Tops $1 Billion in Monthly Duty
Collection During September
Monday, October 22, 2007
Washington
—A record $1.04 billion in duties and fees was collected in
September by U.S. Customs and Border Protection through the
Automated Commercial Environment monthly statement and payment
feature. Since the inception of the ACE monthly statement process
in July 2004, CBP has collected $17 billion in duties and fees.
more...
U.S. Government
Partners with Disney to Welcome International Visitors
Multimedia ‘Portraits of America’ to be
Featured in International Arrivals Areas, U.S. Embassies and Other
Venues to Welcome Visitors to the United States
more...
CBP Seizes More
than $1 Million in Wearing Apparel Illegally Shipped
from China
New US Box Import Rules
Stricter
security measures on containerized imports to the US under
so-called 10+2 requirements of the Safe Port Act could be
introduced as early as the new year, according to a former senior
US customs agent. Robert Pisani, now a partner in US law firm
Pisani & Roll, said publication of the detailed rules was expected
next month and they were currently with the US Office of
Management and Budget. He said the requirements had caused
concern among the maritime industry, especially shippers, because
much of the information that will have to be provided was business
and commercially sensitive. Mr. Pisani said introduction of the
new requirements “will entail major changes to software” in
shippers’ and importers’ operating systems. Under the 10+2 rule,
importers or shippers will have to provide 10 additional pieces of
shipment information to US Customs and Border Protection before
boxes are loaded on to vessels. These include the names and
addresses of the manufacturer, seller, buyer, consolidator and
final destination, together with the container stuffing location,
the consignee number and country of origin of the goods.
Lloyd’s List,
9/19/2007 |
Federal
Agencies Tighten Grip on Export Violators
15 Oct 2007,
"The American Shipper Magazine"
Six federal
agencies, led by the U.S. Justice Department, will work together
to crack down more efficiently on violators of the country's
export control regulations. The National Counter-Proliferation
Initiative, announced Thursday, is specifically targeted at
rooting out exporters who illegally ship restricted U.S. military
and so-called "dual-use" items, or technologies with both
commercial and military applications, to countries and terrorist
organizations. The Justice Department said in a statement that the
illegal overseas transactions in U.S. technologies are
"substantial and growing." The department noted that in the past
week there have been federal cases involving the illegal export of
items with nuclear and missile applications to Pakistan and the
illegal export of U.S. jet fighter parts sought by Iran.
Secure
Freight Initiative Becomes Fully Operational in United Kingdom,
Pakistan, Honduras
Friday, October 12, 2007
Washington
- Southampton Container Terminals, United Kingdom, Port Qasim,
Pakistan (both managed by DP World) and Puerto Cortez, Honduras
will become the first seaports to implement the Secure Freight
Initiative (SFI) beginning October 12 by scanning all maritime
containers destined for the United States for nuclear or other
radiological materials. These ports fulfill the requirements set
out in the Security and Accountability For Every (SAFE) Port Act
of 2006, which establishes a program that couples Non-Intrusive
Inspection (NII) and radiation detection technology. Data from
these systems is then provided to U.S. officials at U.S. Customs
and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center for analysis.
more... |
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The
55-mph Interceptor could become the long-range patrol boat
of the future, while the jetski-size Sentry (inset) could
help prevent a terrorist plot such as Al Qaeda’s attack on
the
USS
Cole
in December 2000. (Photographs Courtesy of MRVI and Qinetiq—inset) |
As
maritime crime heats up, will the U.S. Navy follow Israel and
Singapore’s lead to stock up on new unmanned surface vessels? And
could they stop Al Qaeda?
October 31, 2007
Robots
versus pirates—it’s
not as stupid, or unlikely, as it sounds.
Piracy has exploded in
the waters near Somalia, where this past week United States
warships have fired on two pirate skiffs, and are currently in
pursuit of a hijacked Japanese-owned vessel. At least four other
ships in the region remain under pirate control, and the problem
appears to be going global: The International Maritime Bureau is
tracking a 14-percent increase in worldwide pirate attacks this
year.
more..
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Cargo fraud warning
SHIP agents
are increasingly faced with attempts to obtain delivery of cargo
using forged emails, according to the International Transport
Intermediaries Club (ITIC). Writing in the latest edition of its
annual publication, The Intermediary, ITIC says, “Fraud in
shipping is endemic, cargoes are valuable, and it has never been
easier to forge documents, electronic communications, bills of
lading, etc.
more...
Bush draws veto pen
02 November 2007
US President
George Bush vetoes a massive water resources bill that includes
inland waterway projects sought by the shipping industry.
US President
George Bush checked the veto box today on a water resources bill
that authorizes $23bn in Army Corps of Engineers projects,
including inland waterway projects sought by the shipping
industry.
“This bill lacks fiscal discipline,” Bush said in a note to
Congress released by the White House.
BIS PREVENTS ILLEGAL EXPORTS TO
DUBAI; COMPANY SETTLES ALLEGATIONS OF GENERAL ORDER VIOLATIONS
WASHINGTON
-
The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS)
today announced that Ace Systems Inc. (Ace) has agreed to pay a
civil penalty to settle allegations that the company violated
General Order No. 3 of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR)
by attempting to export items to Mayrow General Trading in Dubai,
UAE.
more...
Ship Shortage
The cost of
shipping raw materials across the world's oceans has reached an
all-time high, pushing up prices of grain, iron ore, coal and
other commodities. The average price of renting a ship to carry
raw materials from Brazil to China has nearly tripled to $180,000
a day from $65,000 a year ago.
more...
Panama Canal
Dimensions
Lloyd’s
Register and Ocean Shipping Consultants have again called on the
Panama Canal Authority to rethink the maximum dimensions of the
expanded canal, to allow the new generation of panamax vessels
that will fit through the enlarged locks to be built. Allowing a
beam of 51 m, instead of the 49 m currently planned, would mean 20
rows of containers could be carried, instead of 19. Lloyd’s
List, 10/17/2007 |
Piracy Attacks on
the Rise
Somalia and
Nigeria remained the top piracy blackspots in the third quarter of
2007, with attacks up 14% in the first nine months of the year,
according to watchdog the International Maritime Bureau. The
first nine months of 2007 saw 198 attacks worldwide reported to
the IMB’s piracy reporting centre in Kuala Lumpur, compared with
174 with 2006. Lloyd’s List,
10/17/2007
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Please be
advised of the status regarding BCMEA/ILWU negotiations.
As
outlined, the process has commenced with the ILWU advising the
Minister of Labour that they have met an impasse with the
BCMEA.
The
Minister of Labour must appoint a conciliator within the next
15-days.
The
Conciliator will have 60-days to meet with both sides and
present a report to the Minister.
Upon
receipt of the report by the Minister, neither side may take
any action (albeit lockout or strike) for 21-days.
Minister
can recommend a resolution to both sides, but at this time it
is not mandatory that either side accept the Minister's
recommendation.
After the
21-day period, either side may issue 72-hour strike or lock
out notice.
Based on
the above scenario and the maximum number of days is allotted
for each process, should there be any work stoppage it would
not occur prior to January 7, 2008.
We will do
our best to keep you updated on any progress. |
When California
Sneezes
Container
shipping conditions on the Pacific have taken a distinct turn for
the worse in recent months as the US economy falters, casting a
shadow over market prospects. The giant Los Angeles/Long Beach
port complex saw inbound container volumes take a sharp drop over
the course of the summer, with local business leaders expressing
shock at the latest numbers.
more...
US
Shipping Law Making Waves Overseas
October 26, 2007
A U.S. law that
will require foreign ports to scan every container they ship
stateside looks set to create big winners and losers and force
consolidation at ports around the world, the Wall Street Journal
reports.
more... |
Trans-Pacific lines
plan rate hikes, floating bunker charges
November 5, 2007 William
Armbruster / The JOURNAL of COMMERCE ONLINE
The
Transpacific Stabilization Agreement representing 14 container
lines serving the trade from Asia to the United States on Thursday
announced a five-point plan designed to increase their revenue
amid rising operating costs, including record fuel prices.
more... |
Ambassador Schwab statement on U.S. Trade
Deficit
10/11/2007
“Strong export
expansion is lending critical support to the U.S. economy right now.
Exports have accounted for 40% of U.S. economic growth over the last 4
quarters. The U.S. trade deficit has also declined 9% so far this
year, compared to last. Removing barriers and expanding trade supports
productivity and income growth, and better paying jobs in America.
Trade agreements reduce barriers to global markets, expand trade, spur
development and benefit U.S. consumers, workers, companies, farmers
and ranchers.”
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Ambassador Schwab
Announces U.S. Will Seek New Trade Agreement to Fight Fakes
10/23/2007
Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement will boost the fight against
counterfeiting and piracy
WASHINGTON DC -
In a major step in the fight against intellectual property rights
(IPR) counterfeiting and piracy, U.S. Trade Representative Susan
C. Schwab today announced the United States and some of its key
trading partners will seek to negotiate an Anti-Counterfeiting
Trade Agreement (ACTA).
more...
Made In USA
Frank Vargo.
vice president for international economic affairs at the National
Association of Manufacturers, said U.S. manufacturing exports have
been making a strong comeback, abetted by growing industrial
productivity at home, the weaker dollar and rising demand for
high-value U.S. products in the "emerging" nations of eastern
Europe, Latin America and Asia. You'd never guess it, but the
U.S. is still the world's largest manufacturer.
more... |
WASHINGTON (AFP) — The US trade deficit shrunk to 57.6 billion
dollars in August, as a jump in exports helped by a weak dollar
offset higher costs for imported oil, government data showed
Thursday.
more...
President Bush
Signs Bill Raising Civil and Criminal Penalties for EAR Violations
President Bush
signed into law on Tuesday the International Emergency Economic
Powers Enhancement Act (S.
1612) that increase civil penalties for violations of
the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Export Administration
Regulations from $50,000 per violation to the greater of $250,000
or twice the amount of the transaction. The new laws increases
criminal penalties for individuals from $50,000 and 10 years
imprisonment to $1 million and 20 years imprisonment. |
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Second
busiest port: Shanghai may replace HK
October 25, 2007
(SHANGHAI)
Chinese city Shanghai is expected to overtake Hong Kong as the
world's second-busiest container port this year, helped by rising
throughput at the multibillion-dollar Yangshan deep-water port, a
senior port official said yesterday.
more...
China ‘Distorting
World Markets’
The world’s
developed nations, spearheaded by the US, have locked horns with
China again over subsidies, amid claims that Beijing has provided
$52bn of support for the steel industry alone. The US, backed by
the European Union, Canada and Japan, accused China in a heated
World Trade Organization session of flouting international
agreements over subsidies for sectors ranging from steel making to
banking. The WTO clash follows a study sponsored by the American
Iron and Steel Institute, which claims that Chinese support
measures violating global trade rules include $17bn in
preferential loans and direct credit and $19bn in equity infusion
and or debt-to-equity swaps. “China’s government-controlled steel
production is distorting the world marketplace, and the problem is
only getting worse,” said AISI president Andrew Sharkey in the
report, Money for Metal, on Chinese steel industry subsidies.
Lloyd’s
List, 10/30/2007. |
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E
V E N T S / S E M I N A R S
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Public Holiday in Singapore
Thursday, 08 November 2007
Deepavali Celebration
Resume work on Friday, 09 November
2007
|
 Is
global business your business?
Study Course for CGBP* Exam
Offered at
Waukesha County Technical College
800 Main Street
Pewaukee, WI
Are you planning
to take the Certified Global Business Professional Exam?
on
Saturday, February 23, 2008
(in
Chicago) |
MWTA & ICE November Meeting
November 13, 2007
8:30 am - 3:00 pm
“Incoterms 2000:” A Must-Session for Exporters
INCOTERMS are shorthand definitions of the respective
responsibilities of sellers and buyers in international sales
contract. Examples are:
INCOTERMS 2000 are the official ICC rules for the interpretation
of trade terms that must be explicitly incorporated into
international sales contracts.
8:30am
Registration & Visit Auction
9:00am
PROGRAM “Incoterms 2000”
Led by: Frank Reynolds
LUNCH (Included)
1:30pm PROGRAM (continued)
3:00pm Auction Bids Awarded & Adjourn
As the U.S.
representative to the ICC Incoterms revision committee, Frank
Reynolds is uniquely qualified to explain Incoterms 2000 to
Americans. In fact, his book, Incoterms for Americans, has become
an authoritative resource for U.S. foreign traders. Frank has
conducted lively public seminars on trade related topics for
nearly 18 years. He owns the "E Award" winning export-trading
company, International Projects, holds a U.S. Customs broker
license, and is a seven-term appointee to the Commerce
Department's District Export Council. |
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