U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site the December 2005 issue of its Modernization Monthly newsletter, which discusses, among other things, new Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) capabilities coming in 2006 and 2007.
Licensed Customs Broker
Customs brokers are entities who assist importers in meeting federal requirements governing imports into the United States. Brokers can be private individuals, partnerships, associations or corporations licensed, regulated and empowered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Customs brokers oversee transactions related to customs entry and admissibility of merchandise, product classification, customs valuation, payment of duties, taxes, or other charges such as refunds, rebates, and duty drawbacks. To obtain a customs broker license, an individual must pass the U.S. Customs Broker License Exam. Customs brokers are not government employees and should not be confused with CBP officials. There are approximately 11,000 active licensed customs brokers in the United States.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP's) Broker Management office has posted to the CBP Web site a notice which outlines various broker license and permit-related fees. The broker license and permit-related fees discussed in this notice are as follows:
According to the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) has issued a circular to its local departments of commerce announcing the first allocation of quantity for the export of textiles to the U.S. in 2006.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted a notice on its Web site , entitled Notice of Examination for April 2006, which announces that the next Customs Broker License Examination will be held on Monday, April 3, 2006.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently issued a notice advising Customs brokers that the Triennial Status Report and associated fee of $100 for each license held by a broker whether it may be an individual, partnership, association, or corporation, are due during the month of February 2006 (i.e. by February 28, 2006).
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a general notice to advise Customs brokers that the Triennial Status Report Fee of $100 that is assessed for each license held by a broker whether it may be an individual, partnership, association, or corporation, is due during the month of February 2006 (i.e. by February 28, 2006) along with the corresponding status report.
According to a Textile Development Memo issued by the U.S. Association of Importers of Textiles and Apparel (USA-ITA), CITA officials have advised that the U.S. will meet with China's negotiating team in Washington D.C. beginning Monday, October 31, 2005 for another round of formal negotiations aimed at reaching a bilateral textile agreement. (TDM, dated 10/28/05, www.usaita.com )
CBP has posted to its Web site revised and slightly reformatted Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) online applications for (1) U.S./Mexico highway carriers; (2) U.S./Canada highway carriers; and (3) licensed customs brokers.
The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a notice stating that the Industry Trade Advisory Committee on Small and Minority Business (ITAC-11) will hold a meeting on October 3, 2005 in Greensboro, NC to discuss topics regarding the North Carolina Trade Policy update, small business development etc. (USTR notice, FR Pub 09/21/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-18822.pdf
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site notice that the fiscal year (FY) 2006 global refined and specialty sugar "low duty" tariff rate quota (TRQ) provided for in HTS Chapter 17, Additional U.S. Note (AUSN) 5, did not fill at opening moment on September 8, 2005. (This quota would normally have opened on October 1, 2005, but opened early due to supply shortages caused by Hurricane Katrina.)