The Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015 (TFTEA) increased the de minimis value exemption of Section 321 shipments from $200 to $800; however, most partner government agencies (PGAs)…
Trade Alerts
Montreal Longshore Workers Plan Strike Starting Thursday
Montreal longshore workers have planned a 40-hour strike at two marine terminals starting Thursday afternoon. As stated in the JOC yesterday, “The Maritime Employers Association (MEA) on Tuesday said it…
US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) Goes into Effect; Final Implementing Instructions Released
Effective today, July 1st, NAFTA terminates, and the USMCA enters into force. The Final Implementing Instructions for USMCA (aka CUSMA) were released yesterday. The Background section states: “CBP understands that…
Traffic Mitigation Fee (TMF) in LA/LB Increasing on August 1st
On August 1, 2020, the Traffic Mitigation Fee (TMF) at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach will increase by 4.2 percent. The increase will bring the TMF charge…
USMCA Goes into Effect July 1st with Some Significant Differences from NAFTA, Importers Should Prepare
As of July 1st, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) will no longer exist as the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) comes into effect—except for some automotive products for which there…
ILWU to Observe a Work Stop Day on June 19th, Some Container Movement Impacted
On June 19th, terminal operators and dock workers for the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) will observe a “no workday” to commemorate the end of slavery in the US…
USTR Grants 16 Extensions for Section 301 List One Exclusions, Set to Expire June 4th
The US Trade Representative (USTR) has extended sixteen exclusions from list one of the Section 301 tariffs imposed on Chinese imports. The exclusions, which were set to expire on June…
Hong Kong’s Special Trade Privileges to Be Revoked
On Friday, May 29th, President Trump announced that the US would begin the process of revoking Hong Kong’s special trade status—which would take away its treatment as a separate customs…
New Process for the Payment of Softwood Lumber Assessments, and Changes for Small Importers
Beginning July 1, 2020, importers of softwood lumber will pay assessments to US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) instead of to the Softwood Lumber Board (SLB). Companies that ship 15…
USTR Publishes Section 301 Exclusions, Amendments to Exclusions
Over the past week, the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) announced new product exclusions and exclusion amendments from the Section 301 tariffs on imports from China. On May…