US Export Controls Update

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) maintains the Commerce Control List (CCL), which identifies items subject to Department of Commerce export controls. The Export Administration Regulations (EAR) has been revised to implement changes made to the Wassenaar Arrangement's List of Dual Use Goods and Technologies (Wassenaar List). This list is maintained and agreed to by governments participating in the Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls for Conventional Arms and Dual Use Goods and Technologies (Wassenaar Arrangement, or WA). The arrangement advocates implementation of effective export controls on strategic items with the objective of improving regional and international security and stability. To harmonize with the changes to the Wassenaar List, this rule revises the EAR by amending certain entries that are controlled for national security reasons in Categories 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Part I (telecommunications), 5 Part II (information security), 6, 7, 8, and 9. New entries to the CCL have been added, reporting requirements have been revised, and EAR definitions have been added and amended. The following categories are affected: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9.

AZERBAIJAN: 2009 Azerbaijan Landed Cost has been rolled over. HS numbers, HS descriptions, default duty rates, VAT rates, VAT rate exemptions, excise rate and excise rate exemptions are included.

ARGENTINA

The 2009 Tariff Schedule for Argentina has been updated. New HTS numbers have been added, while old HTS numbers have been deleted. Several existing HTS descriptions have been modified. The following HTS chapters are affected: 05, 28, 29, 38, 49, 65, 73, 84, 85, 87, 90 and 94.

ITA Issues November 2009 Export Fact Sheet, Includes TPP Data

The International Trade Administration has issued a fact sheet containing November 2009 U.S. export statistics. Among other things, the fact sheet states that U.S. exports of goods and services increased by 0.9% in November 2009, while imports increased 2.6%. The fact sheet also states that in November, the U.S. exported $5.6 billion in goods to the countries that are participating in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement negotiations (Australia, Brunei, Chile, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam).

New On-Demand Solution Enables Cross-functional Teams to Create and Manage End-Use Statements for Customers, Vendors and Employees

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ, January 20, 2010 -- Management Dynamics, a leading provider of Global Trade Management solutions, today announced the release of End-Use Manager, an on-demand solution that generates end-use surveys for parties involved in any cross-border transaction.

The new solution allows a trade compliance team to comprehensively survey and collect end-use statements from customers, suppliers and employees, establishing a standardized process for managing and ensuring compliance with international trade regulations.

“Companies that manufacture and export licensable goods must ensure that their customer and the intended end-use are approved and in compliance with export regulations. However, today this is largely a manual process that is difficult to administer, especially across a global enterprise,” said Adrienne Braumiller, Partner, Braumiller Schulz LLP.

“Management Dynamics’ End-Use Manager provides companies with the tools necessary to ensure that their shipments are delivered to the approved trade party and destined for friendly end-use.”

End-Use Manager can be flexibly deployed as a Web-based portal across any global enterprise and configured to meet the specific requirements of different business units. Surveys can be developed by business unit, transaction type, origin country and destination country, and populated with a pre-configured list of questions. In addition, all parties to the transaction are screened against the major sanctioned party lists.

New On-Demand Solution Enables Cross-functional Teams to Create and Manage End-Use Statements for Customers, Vendors and Employees

Management Dynamics, a leading provider of Global Trade Management solutions, today announced the release of End-Use Manager, an on-demand solution that generates end-use surveys for parties involved in any cross-border transaction. The new solution allows a trade compliance team to comprehensively survey and collect end-use statements from customers, suppliers and employees, establishing a standardized process for managing and ensuring compliance with international trade regulations. Click here to read the full article.

Japan

This is an update to remove and add import prohibition on poultry products originating in United States under the Domestic Animal Infectious Disease Control Law. The following HTS chapters are affected: 01, 02 and 16.

Brazil

Brazil has added a Tariff Rate Quota. The products affected by this are oseltamivir phosphate and medicines based on oseltamivir phosphate. The following HTS chapters are affected: 29 and 30.

NMFS Proposes Rule on Vessels IDed as Engaged in IUU

The National Marine Fisheries Service has issued a proposed rule to restrict entry into any U.S. port or place and access to port services by vessels that have been listed as engaging in illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing activities. It would also prohibit the provision by persons and business entities subject to U.S. jurisdiction of certain services to, and commercial transactions with, such vessels. Written comments are due by February 25, 2010.

The Netherlands Customs Office took a 'guerrilla marketing' approach to communicating their customs requirements to travelers entering the Schiphol Airport:

From the creator:

To communicate Dutch customs regulations to passengers arriving at Schiphol airport and remind incoming travelers to consider the contents of their luggage, S-W-H came up with the following: on the reclaim belts we planted dummy suitcases with a crocodiles tail sticking out with the additional message Something to declare? Please go to the red channel..

I think it's a good way to raise awareness about customs compliance; it's also interesting to see how people outside 'the business' view customs regulations. The agency who created this 'guerrilla marketing' campaign did a great job of getting traveler's attention - especially curious kids!

Hanjin Shipping is pleased to announce its West Africa service with UASC. Effective March 1, 2010, this service will be running between Valencia, Lagos, Cotonou, Tema and Abidjan. In addition, Hanjin Shipping reveals that they are planning to change the calling port from Valencia to Algeciras this coming April.

Leading Manufacturer Streamlines Inbound Supply Chain to Efficiently Manage Growth

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ, January 13, 2010 --

Management Dynamics, a leading provider of global trade management solutions, today announced that Fiesta Gas Grills, one of the largest North American grill manufacturers, has implemented its Supply Chain Visibility solution to support its expanded global procurement operations.

Integrating its sourcing which is primarily from China to its operations in the United States and Canada, the global multi-mode solution has enabled Fiesta to improve customer service, reduce cycle times, better manage suppliers and proactively identify in-transit delivery issues.

Leading Manufacturer Streamlines Inbound Supply Chain to Efficiently Manage Growth

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ, January 13, 2010 --

US and New Zealand Sign Science and Technology Agreement

New Zealand and the United States have agreed to enhance cooperation in science and technology research. The goal is to improve the shared capabilities of both nations in order to protect against acts of terrorism and other threats to domestic and external security. The agreement calls for close cooperation on the development of threat and vulnerability analyses and new technologies, as well as strengthened collaboration on border and transport security and civil defense emergency management.

Leading Manufacturer Streamlines Inbound Supply Chain to Efficiently Manage Growth

Leading Manufacturer Streamlines Inbound Supply Chain to Efficiently Manage Growth

Brazil has updated duty and IPI rates for 2010. The following HTS chapters are affected: 27, 44, 85, 87, and 94. Brazil has also made changes in preferential duty rates with WTO member countries, affecting various products across the tariff.

Here's a great article I found in Logistics Management that gives a basic overview of the Importer Security Filing ("10+2") rule: Complying with the Importer Security Filing. The rule, which goes into full effect very soon - Jan. 26, 2010, will require importers of ocean freight to complete a properly executed Importer Security Filing (ISF). To comply with this rule, the importer must submit 10 pieces of data related to the container's contents 24 hours prior to loading, and the carrier must submit an additional 2 items no later than 48 hours after departure.

More and more companies are becoming aware of the need for detailed metrics to track supply chain performance, according to a recent study done by the Georgia Southern University and the University of Tennessee on issues in transportation and logistics.

I have added a few more resources to the Analyst Reports and Webinars pages- here's a shortcut for you to check them out.

On December 3rd, the US and Singapore got together to hold their annual free trade agreement review - the fifth such review since the agreement was implemented in 2004.

US Trade Representative Ron Kirk announced in late December that the US is seeking to negotiate a trade pact with several Asia-Pacific and South American nations to encourage trade growth during a rebounding economy.

Israel has updated HS descriptions, as well as added and deleted records for fish (frozen, excluding fish fillets and other fish meat), locust beans, seaweeds, and other algae. The following HTS chapters are affected: 03, 12, 15, 16, 39, 63, 76, and 87.

CSAV is pleased to introduce its new Orinoco Service, which will make weekly direct calls in Cartagena and Puerto Cabello. This will provide new opportunities for connections with main CSAV Group Services, including the Joint Caribbean, Euroandes, Americas, Gulf Bridge Express and Mediterranean services. Customers can expect better transit times for cargo to and from Venezuela via Cartagena.