Deringer Trade Alerts

• AMS and CBP Fixing Issue with HTS Filings of Potatoes
  July 6, 2022
  U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued CSMS #52344962 on July 1, 2022, indicating that AMS and CBP were fixing an issue in the AMS logic in ACE that affects the HTS filings of potatoes for various Marketing Order (MO) message sets.  As a temporary fix, the severity for the ...
• DUNS Required for FSVP Entries & Enforcement Policy for Food Facility Registrations
  July 6, 2022
  According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), beginning July 24, 2022, the use of “UNK” (Unknown) will no longer be allowed in lieu of a DUNS number for food imports covered by the Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP).  Use of the “UNK” was temporarily allowed when the FSVP requirements ...
• Biden Increases Tariffs on Certain Russian Imports
  July 5, 2022
  On June 27, 2022, President Joe Biden signed Presidential Proclamation 10420, increasing the column two rates of duty on certain articles originating from the Russian Federation.  All products listed in Appendix A of the proclamation will be subject to a duty rate of 35% effective July 27, 2022. The tariff increase ...
• Rail Congestion in Canada’s Supply Chain
  June 29, 2022
  Rail hubs and local warehouses in Toronto and Montreal are suffering congestion problems due to a shortage of drayage capacity for receiving cargo from Prince Rupert and Vancouver.  As a result, West Coast ports are feeling the pressure, with rail dwells at marine terminals elevated and the inland movement of ...
• PVC Recently Linked to Forced Labor and Environmental Abuse in the Uyghur Region
  June 22, 2022
  The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), which bans any articles made wholly or in part in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR), went into effect yesterday, June 21.  However, a recent report links environmental and labor abuses in the XUAR to polyvinyl chloride, commonly known as vinyl or PVC. China ...
• CN and IBEW Undergo Negotiations to Avoid Potential Strike
  June 16, 2022
  Canadian National Railway (CN) received a 72-hour strike notice from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) yesterday.  The union, representing approximately 750 employees in Canada, is prepared to strike beginning at 11 AM EST on Saturday.  CN and the union continue to negotiate, and CN also offered to resolve ...
• Importer Guidance Available for Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act
  June 14, 2022
  In an effort to prepare importers for the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) that goes into effect on June 21, 2022, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) released a guidance document.  The document is intended to provide transparency to CBP’s operational approach and complement the Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force’s ...
• COVID-19 Exclusions from Section 301 Tariffs Extended
  June 2, 2022
  On May 27, 2022, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced another extension of the Section 301 exclusions for COVID-19 related medical care products imported from China.  The previous expiration of the exclusions was May 31, 2022, but now the exclusions will extend an additional six months and expire on ...
• Section 232 Duties for Imports of Steel Articles from Ukraine Temporarily Suspended
  June 1, 2022
  Following President Biden’s proclamation on May 27, 2022, a one-year suspension of Section 232 duties on imports of steel articles and derivative steel articles from Ukraine will be implemented.  Such products will not be subject to additional duties under HTSUS subheadings 9903.80.01 and 9903.80.03 from 12:00 AM on June 1, ...
• Pest Permit Required for Imported Earthworms
  June 1, 2022
  The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS) will require importers of earthworms to obtain a PPQ 526 pest permit starting July 1, 2022.  The permits are required to import powdered, frozen, or freeze-dried earthworms, their castings, and related products into the U.S. from any country.  Imports of earthworms ...
• Aluminum Import Monitoring Requirements for Countries of Smelt Effective End of June
  June 1, 2022
  The U.S. Commerce Department (Commerce) issued a reminder about the new Aluminum Import Monitoring (AIM) System requirements in CSMS #52046238.  Effective June 29, 2022, when requesting an Aluminum License in the AIM portal, you will be required to enter the “country of largest smelt” and “country of second largest smelt.” ...
• Preparing for the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Effective in June
  May 25, 2022
  On December 23, 2021, President Biden signed into law the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA).  The Act prohibits U.S. imports of any goods, wares, articles, and merchandise mined, produced, or manufactured wholly or in part in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) of the People’s Republic of China.  Such ...
• USDA Seeking Nominations for Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee
  May 4, 2022
  The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) seeks nominations for the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee (FVIAC).  The advisory group will be represented by up to 25 qualified fruit and vegetable industry members who can provide recommendations and ideas to the Secretary of Agriculture on issues of importance to ...
• APHIS Veterinary Services New eFile Permitting System
  April 20, 2022
  Beginning May 31, 2022, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Veterinary Services (VS) will require submission via the APHIS eFile system for all new and renewal permit applications for live animals and animal products, organisms, and vectors. The APHIS eFile will replace ePermits.  This web-based system provides a modern ...
• Russia & Belarus Lose Normal Trade Relation Status with the U.S.
  April 13, 2022
  In response to the continuing conflict in Ukraine, President Biden signed legislation, “Suspending Normal Trade Relations with Russia and Belarus Act” (the Act), into law on April 8, 2022.  The Act suspends normal trade relations (NTR) with the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus. By suspending NTR, Russia and Belarus ...
• U.S. Trade Representative Reinstates Section 301 Exclusions
  April 4, 2022
  On March 28, 2022, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) published the Federal Register (FR) notification that it would reinstate certain Section 301 exclusions retroactively to October 12, 2021.  In many cases, the reinstated exclusions are product specific and depend upon the HTSUS Classification of goods as entered and the product ...
• LA/LB Ports to Begin Collecting a Clean Truck Fund Rate on April 1
  March 31, 2022
  Effective Friday, April 1st, the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles will implement a Clean Truck Fund (CTF) collection of $10 per twenty-foot equivalent unit on loaded import and export cargo containers hauled by drayage trucks entering and leaving container terminals.  The CTF will be $20 for containers longer ...
• APM Terminals Announce Demurrage Policy Change
  March 30, 2022
  APM Terminals is set to implement a policy change related to Saturday demurrage fees for all inbound containers.  Starting April 9th, 2022, Saturdays will no longer be counted as exempt from demurrage.  Once containers are discharged into the terminal, Saturdays will be counted within the four free days of dwell ...
• Shanghai Implements Two-Stage Lockdown in Effort to Curb Virus Outbreaks
  March 30, 2022
  On Monday, Shanghai launched a two-stage lockdown of its 26 million residents in a campaign against the Covid-19 virus and rising omicron cases.  The lockdown is being implemented in two phases to limit disruption, starting with the Pudong financial district and nearby areas on the east side of the Huangpu ...
• U.S. Announces New and Updated Russian Sanctions
  March 25, 2022
  The trade continues to closely watch the movement of legislation through the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate, which would remove Most Favored Nation (MFN) trade status for both Russia and Belarus.  The legislation seeks to end normal trade relations with both nations and would result ...
• CP and TCRC Reach Agreement and End Work Stoppage
  March 22, 2022
  Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) and the Teamsters union have agreed to final and binding arbitration to end the work stoppage that began on Sunday.  Workers returned to the job at noon local time on March 22, 2022.  CP will immediately work with customers to resume train operations and restore normal ...
• Canadian Pacific Railway Shuts Down and Union Workers Strike
  March 21, 2022
  Trains across Canada came to a halt early on Sunday as Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) shut down operations and locked-out workers, and the union subsequently went on strike with picketing underway at various CP locations.  The strike involves roughly 3,000 employees, represented by Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC). CP Rail workers ...
• Shenzhen Locked Down After Spike in Covid Cases
  March 14, 2022
  China has locked down Shenzhen, a city of 17.5 million people, in an attempt to control its worst Covid-19 outbreak since the pandemic began in 2020.  As China seeks to maintain its zero-Covid strategy, all of Shenzhen’s residents must undergo three rounds of city-wide mass testing, and public transportation has ...
• U.S. Bans Russian Imports and Downgrades Russia’s Trade Status
  March 14, 2022
  On March 11, President Biden issued an executive order banning imports of Russian seafood, spirits, and non-industrial diamonds due to Russia’s conflict with Ukraine.  This ban follows earlier sanctions imposed on Russian oil, gas, and coal that cut off about 60% of U.S. imports from Russia. The ban was effective immediately ...
• Trucking Industry Struggling as Oil Prices Continue to Soar
  March 11, 2022
  With today’s current market conditions, the shipping industry is not only suffering from equipment and driver shortages, severe congestion, and capacity issues, but oil prices are now soaring, causing more chaos and disruption at this unprecedented time. Russia is one of the biggest oil and gas producers in the world, and ...
• Union Members at CP Rail Vote to Authorize Strike
  March 7, 2022
  Union members of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) have voted in favor of a strike mandate beginning March 16, 2022, if a collective bargaining agreement isn’t reached.  The possible work stoppage will affect approximately 3,000 Canadian Pacific Railway (CP Rail) locomotive engineers, conductors, trainpersons, and yardpersons.  According to the ...
• Carriers Impose Temporary Suspension of Bookings To and From Russia
  March 4, 2022
  Several of the largest container shipping companies are temporarily halting all cargo bookings to and from Russia due to the ongoing invasion of Ukraine, including Maersk, MSC, CMA CGM, ONE, and Hapag-Lloyd. According to a statement made by Maersk, “As the stability and safety of our operations is already being directly ...
• Blockades at Canadian Border Crossings Causing Delays
  February 2, 2022
  The Coutts border crossing is the only 24/7 commercial crossing between Alberta and Montana, and it is one of Canada’s busiest crossings into the U.S.  Service at the border has been halted since Saturday as trucks and cars have formed a blockage in both directions on Highway 4, just north ...
• Phase 1 of ACE Portal Modernization in Effect
  January 28, 2022
  According to CSMS #50752966, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) deployed Phase 1 of the ACE Secure Data Portal (ACE Portal) modernization on January 22, 2022.  The updated platform is expected to provide easier use and better performance.  It includes a new login screen and homepage, as well as upgraded ...
• Mandatory Electronic Filing of USDA Agricultural Marketing Service Marketing Orders
  January 25, 2022
  According to CSMS #50708860, filing PGA USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Marketing Orders (MO) becomes mandatory on February 28, 2022.  Importers of the following products will be required to provide their product and load data into CBP’s Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) system electronically to enter goods into the U.S.: Avocados Grapefruit Kiwifruit Onions Potatoes Table grapes Field-grown ...