Earlier last week the Trump Administration set into motion a process that could see more tariffs placed on a host of goods. On April 15, 2025, by executive order (the “Executive Order”), President Trump ordered an investigation pursuant to Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 into “critical [...]
Read MoreOn April 17, 2025 the United States Trade Representative (“USTR”) announced sanctions against the Chinese shipping and maritime industry, including logistics and shipbuilding. These actions come at the end of a year-long investigation initiated by the Biden Administration. Here's what we know, based on the press release. THE INVESTIGATION In the [...]
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Freight forwarders customarily make bookings with ocean carriers on behalf of their clients, and often they are listed as forwarding agents on the carriers’ bills of lading. Occasionally, forwarders are sued by carriers for unpaid freight or other charges such as demurrage. The question is, “How often are forwarders legally liable for the carriers’ charges?” The answer depends on how […]
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has approved a pilot program to start going paperless. This electronic program will require importers to submit information electronically regarding consumer products being brought into the United States. This electronic system is an advancement from the current paper-based method used for documentation of imported goods. Ideally, this pilot program will help the CPSC to […]
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently issued a memorandum providing new guidance regarding acceptable mechanisms for submission of post-importation preference claims (Post-Entry Amendments (PEAs), Post Summary Corrections (PSCs), protests in 19 USC 1514 and post-importation claims in 19 USC 1520(d)). The agency has eliminated the use of protests as a mechanism to file post-entry claims for free trade agreement and […]
Given that October is upon us, it seems appropriate to remind everyone that an FDA registration window just opened for renewal. As many of you already know, on December 12, 2003 FDA established a new set of regulations that required food facilities to register with the department. Under FDA and FSMA law, any person dealing with domestic and foreign facilities […]
Customs often seizes goods bearing allegedly counterfeit marks which were shipped from a foreign country through the United States with a third country as the final destination. The seizure notice always cites 19 USC 1526(e)[1]. Generally speaking, US trademark laws are intended only for US consumers and US trademark owners[2]. By definition, goods in-transit are never intended for entry into US […]
On May 31, 2013 the Federal Maritime Commission (“FMC”) published proposed changes to the rules regulating Ocean Transportation Intermediaries (“OTI’s”) and Non-Vessel-Operating Common Carriers (“NVOCC’s”). The 60-day comment period ended on July 30, 2013 and the Final Publication is expected to be released sometime in December 2013 with the effective date sometime in February 2014. We have created an easy […]