Customs and Trade

Anticipating President-Elect Trump’s Executive Orders and Trade Remedy Tariffs

As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to assume office next Monday (January 20), news reports suggest he intends to issue approximately 100 executive orders on Monday or shortly thereafter.  Given his repeated emphasis on tariffs as a policy tool during the 2024 election and the run-up to his inauguration, we expect new tariff actions to be […]

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Expansion of the UFLPA Entity List: Implications for Importers

Effective Monday, November 25, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has added 30 new entities to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) Entity List, as detailed in the Federal Register notice publication. This marks a substantial increase in the list. DHS will now restrict goods from over 100 PRC-based companies from entering the United

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Food, Ag, & Trade Outlook in the Incoming Trump Administration

The food, agriculture, and trade sectors are aware the Trump Administration could bring myriad policy changes that could have a significant impact on business.    OFW Law provides an initial outlook at the new administration’s approach to food, agriculture, and trade, which will be influenced by individual cabinet and other executive branch appointments who will

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CBP Operations During ILA Strike – Updates from CBP Trade Call and Recent Cargo Systems Messaging Service

The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) strike is in effect as of October 1, 2024, until the large U.S. maritime workers’ union finalizes negotiating with the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX). This strike has shut down approximately 36 major U.S. ports along the East Coast and the Gulf of Mexico leading to significant disruption in U.S.

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USTR and the White House Announce the Increase of Section 301 Tariffs on Certain Products, a Limited Exclusion Process, and the Increase of CBP Enforcement

Today, the White House and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced the results of the USTR’s statutory 4-year review of the tariff actions in the Section 301 investigation of China’s Acts, Policies, and Practices Related to Technology Transfer, Intellectual Property, and Innovation (the China tariffs imposed under former President Trump).  As had

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U.S. Preliminarily Finds Countervailable Subsidies are Being Provided to Producers and Exporters of Frozen Warmwater Shrimp from Ecuador, India and Vietnam but not Indonesia

On March 26, 2024,  the U.S. Department of Commerce (“Commerce”) issued  unpublished preliminary affirmative determinations in the countervailing duty (“CVD”) investigations on frozen warmwater shrimp (hereinafter “shrimp”)  from Ecuador, India and Vietnam finding that countervailable subsidies are being provided to producers and exporters of frozen shrimp from Ecuador, India and Vietnam.  As provided below, the

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Trade Update: CPSC Urges Importers, Distributors, and Retailers to Stop Importing, Distributing, and Selling Roller Ball Candy-type Products

Today, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), which is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risk of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products, is warning consumers about the choking risk associated with roller ball candy type products and advises them not to buy or use

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Your Guide to Importing Human Food Into the U.S.

OFW’s Customs and Trade team regularly assists food importers with import compliance and enforcement matters. Importers of human foods should be familiar with the importation process and requirements prior to importation. Otherwise, the product and importer could be subject to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) enforcements, such

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International Travelers Beware: CBP Seized More Than $7 million from Travelers Across the U.S. in October 2023

Did you know that if you travel to the U.S. carrying large amounts of money, you are required to report that money to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)?  Failure to report can lead to the seizure of your money by CBP, with no guarantee that it will be returned to you. The penalties for

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Scope Comments in Antidumping and Countervailing Investigations on Aluminum Extrusions Due November 13, 2023

As per the Department of Commerce’s (“Commerce”) notices published on October 31, 2023 in the Federal Register, Commerce has initiated new  antidumping duty (ADD) and countervailing duty (CVD) investigations on aluminum extrusions.    Commerce is also requesting comments by November 13, 2023 on the scope (product coverage) and product characteristics of the investigations.  The ADD

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Decoding CBP’s Modernized Customs Broker Regulations – What You Need to Know

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued the final rule modernizing the customs broker regulations 19 CFR 111 with an effective date of December 19, 2022.   Key changes include transitioning to a national permit framework, requiring that a customs broker have direct communication with an importer, revising the standard of care of using responsible supervision

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USTR Extends Existing Section 301 China Tariff Exclusions

The USTR announced that it is extending the only exclusions from the Section 301 tariffs on Chinese-origin goods that currently exist.  The exclusions will now run through December 31, 2023.  The draft notice can be found here.   The exclusions, which fall within two groups, were previously set to expire on September 30, 2023.   352

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