Please be alert to the potential for a labor action by the International Longshoreman Association (ILA) impacting US East Coast and Gulf Coast ports. The current master contract ends September 30th. Currently the ILA and the United States Maritime Alliance, Ltd. (USMX) do not appear to be close to an agreement. We are monitoring the… Read more »
CUSTOMS USER FEES INCREASE – MERCHANDISE PROCESSING FEE INCREASE
Please be informed that the Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF) will be increased effective with entries dated October 1, 2024 and forward. The ad valorem rate of 0.3464% will NOT change. The MPF minimum and maximum for formal entries (class code 499) will change as follows: Quotes for cargo arriving on or after October 1st, should… Read more »
Supply Chain Disruption Reduced As Canadian Rail Strikes Halted
The National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of American, Inc. (NCBFAA) posted on August 26th in an article below titled “Canada Industrial Relations Board Puts Brakes on Rail Strikes—For Now”: The Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) on Saturday, Aug. 24, ruled to allow Canadian Labor Minister Steven MacKinnon to end job action in Canada’s rail… Read more »
Supply Chain Disruptions and ILA Contract Negotiations
The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) current labor contract covering union members across the US East Coast and Gulf Ports, expires on September 30th, 2024. Negotiations on the conditions of the new contract are underway, but the ILA has already announced its prepared for a potential coast-wide strike if an agreement is not reached with the… Read more »
CBP Enforcing Vague Cargo Descriptions
As part of U.S. Customs’ ongoing initiative to maintain compliance in an ever-evolving industry, they are beginning to “crack down” on vague cargo descriptions, such as “parts,” “accessories,” “textiles,” and “cleaning supplies.” One often overlooked requirement for a compliant commercial invoice is the need for a precise, or specific, description of the merchandise being imported,… Read more »
