Ocean carrier Evergreen Shipping Line "systematically" failed to meet its service requirements, pressured its customers to pay "extracontractual prices and surcharges" and charged unfair detention and demurrage, Bed Bath & Beyond said in a Feb. 21 complaint with the Federal Maritime Commission. The former big box retailer specifically accused the carrier of failing to meet minimum quantity commitments as part of a contract and said it took space reserved for Bed Bath & Beyond and instead allocated it to "higher-priced cargo from other shippers."
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:
Tin-plated brass strips imported by Cooper Plating and then made into plumbing parts before being exported are eligible for temporary importation under bond under subheading 9813.00.05, CBP said in a recent ruling. However, while they undergo the required processing to qualify for TIB treatment, they are subject to the USMCA "lesser of duty rule" for similar reasons, CBP said.
The Federal Maritime Commission approved a confidential settlement between U.S. carrier Network Shipping and several produce importers and exporters, the agency said Feb. 20. The importers and exporters -- including Coast Citrus Distributors, which does business as Olympic Fruit & Vegetable; Amazon Produce Network; Refin Tropicals; JW Fresh; Sembríos De Exportación Sembriexport; and Bresson -- accused the carrier in August of failing to provide chassis for certain shipments, causing $2 million in damages and costs (see 2308070050).
Registration for the May 1 customs broker license exam opened on Feb. 20 and will close March 21, at 4:30 p.m., CBP said. Registration for the exam can be found at the Customs Brokers webpage on CBP's website. The agency previously announced that the exam date was being moved from April 24 to May 1 (see 2312120046).
CBP announced an Enforce and Protect Act investigation on whether Shari Pharmachem USA evaded the antidumping and countervailing duty orders on glycine from China. The agency said it found reasonable suspicion existed that the importers had transshipped Chinese-origin xanthan gum through India, necessitating the imposition of interim measures.
CBP's Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee (COAC) reappointed 14 members for the 17th term of the group, the agency said. Additional 17th term appointments will be made and announced at a later date, CBP said.
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:
CBP found substantial evidence that Legion Furniture evaded antidumping and countervailing duty orders covering quartz surface products from China, but didn't find substantial evidence that Vanity Art evaded the same orders. CBP, in an Enforce and Protect Act Notice of Determination dated Feb. 9, said that Legion declared the merchandise as Vietnamese-origin wood furniture without declaring the quartz surface product components as subject to the orders on entry.
CBP granted an importer's protest that an automatic aerosol dispenser is classified as an appliance part, rather than as an appliance itself, in a recently released ruling.