CBP granted “snow days” for all entries at the Ports of JFK and New York/Newark for the entire week beginning Oct. 29 and ending Nov. 2 due to Superstorm Sandy, the agency said in a CSMS message. The 'snow days' allow for late entry filing and payments of duties that were due Oct. 29-Nov. 2 without penalties, said CBP.
CBP officers at the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility seized $2,762,000 worth of suspected marijuana that was concealed within a commercial shipment conveyance, CBP said. On the evening of Nov. 27, a 1996 grey Kenworth tractor pulling a 1994 white Great Dane trailer arrived at the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge cargo facility with a manifested commercial shipment of frozen strawberries. The tractor/trailer was examined utilizing the cargo X-ray system and subsequently referred to the secondary inspection area for a thorough examination of conveyance and merchandise, CBP said. During secondary inspection officers discovered 622 packages weighing about 1,253 kilograms (2,762 pounds) of alleged marijuana that were hidden within the buckets of the frozen strawberries, it said. CBP seized the narcotics, the tractor/trailer and the manifested merchandise.
CBP’s Office of Congressional Affairs launched a new Congressional Resources section of the CBP website, it said in its Nov. 23 newsletter (here). The section is "dedicated to assisting congressional offices seeking information on CBP programs, policies, and operations," the agency said. The site includes "CBP news and events; answers to questions frequently asked by congressional staff; and valuable CBP references and resources." The new site is (here).
Los Angeles Field Operations of CBP issued Public Bulletin No. LA13-016 to provide updated information on the commodities and personnel assigned to import specialist and entry teams at the Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport. The guide lists the merchandise assignments, supervisor names and telephone numbers of the LA/LB import specialist and entry teams in effect as of November 28.
A listing of recent antidumping and countervailing duty messages from the International Trade Administration posted to CBP's website Nov. 28, along with the case number(s) and CBP message number, is provided below. The messages are available by searching for the listed CBP message number at http://addcvd.cbp.gov. (CBP occasionally adds backdated messages without otherwise indicating which message was added. ITT will include a message date in parentheses in such cases.)
Putting in place a Senate-confirmed Commissioner of CBP is "critically important," to the agency, said Deputy Commissioner David Aguilar, speaking to reporters at the East Coast Trade Symposium Nov. 28. Aguilar was named acting commissioner last year after the term for Commissioner Alan Bersin's recess appointment expired. The agency hasn't had a politically appointed commissioner since 2009.
About 700 people registered to attend the CBP East Coast Trade Symposium Nov. 27 and 28, said a CBP spokesman. About 500 people registered for the Webcast, he said. The same event last year had about 750 onsite attendees and about 350 people registered for the Webcast, the spokesman said.
CBP released its Nov. 28 Customs Bulletin (Vol. 46, No. 49). While the Bulletin does not contain any ruling articles, it does include a Court of International Trade decision.
A listing of recent antidumping and countervailing duty messages from the International Trade Administration posted to CBP's website Nov. 27, along with the case number(s) and CBP message number, is provided below. The messages are available by searching for the listed CBP message number at http://addcvd.cbp.gov. (CBP occasionally adds backdated messages without otherwise indicating which message was added. ITT will include a message date in parentheses in such cases.)
CBP's New York Field Operations office released the agenda for its meeting for 10 a.m. Dec. 5 in Rm. 401, 1100 Raymond Blvd., Newark. Agenda items include an ACE update on holding code clarification, CES update, resumption of business plan, damaged merchandise procedures and post-storm procedures, it said in an Information Pipeline notice. Details: Linda Birck, 973-368-6107 or linda.birck@dhs.gov.