White House Takes Action Against E-commerce Shipment Abuses
In a significant move to protect American consumers and businesses, the Biden-Harris Administration has announced new executive actions targeting the surge in de minimis shipments, particularly from China-founded e-commerce platforms. The White House is set to implement rules aimed at blocking illicit shipments that exploit the de minimis exemption—a loophole allowing certain imports to enter the U.S. duty-free. The majority of these shipments, now exceeding one billion annually, originate from Chinese e-commerce platforms. This influx has prompted the Administration to use its executive authority to curb what it describes as “significant increased abuse.” Additionally, there is a call for Congress to enact legislation reforming this exemption comprehensively within the year. According to the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of
The JAMES GANG joins IFFCBAS for a tour of MV OOCL BERLIN in Savannah, GA
With grateful appreciation to Ms. Helen Beasley for arranging this event on behalf of the Independent Freight Forwarders and Customs Brokers Association of Savannah, #JamesGang members Alex Jones, JR Cotton, and Steven Hollander tour the working vessel MV OOCL Berlin in the port of Savannah, GA today. Tour participants included employees from regular member firms of IFFCBAS. They were guided through the bridge, catwalks and a tour of the engine room. What a great experience for all.
USTR to Consider Extending Certain Tariff Exclusions on $34 Billion of Chinese Imports
As reported from ustr.gov 10/28/2019 Washington, DC – The United States Trade Representative (USTR) will commence on November 1, 2019 a process for considering extending for up to twelve months certain exclusions from additional tariffs on Chinese imports that were granted last December and are set to expire on December 28, 2019. In a Federal Register notice to be published this week, USTR will provide details on the process for submitting comments favoring or opposing specified tariff exclusions. The period for submitting comments will run from November 1, 2019 to November 30, 2019. To view the Federal Register notice, click here. Downloadable forms for filing a comment are available here.
The JSJ Gang Charleston attends the SC International Trade Conference
This past week John S James Company attended the South Carolina International Trade Conference in Charleston. Our own Director of Import Compliance Myra Reynolds was a featured panelist at the SCITC Customs Update. Rick Jones of the John S James Charleston office as well as JSJ Import Administrator Sean Kelley teamed up with Cole Creech and Nicolas Aboitiz of DAK Americas LLC teamed up for the Conference Golf Tournament. The foursome came in last place and won the “Most Honest Player Award”.
Incoterms 2020 Seminar November 19th 2019
Incoterms® 2020 has been written and will be published later this year. The ICC (International Chamber of Commerce) does training all over the world and this event will be held in Charleston, SC on November 19, 2019. Frank Reynolds, the USA representative to the ICC for updating Incoterms for 30+ years, will be doing a seminar in Charleston on November 19. Frank is the country’s lead expert on this subject and his seminars are very entertaining and thorough. He is the author of Incoterms For Americans®. I’ve attached a flyer with the event details. We hope you can make it to Charleston for this important event for every exporter and importer. For more information, go to https://www.incoterms-for-americans.com/.