LLUSCBA E-Briefing This communication service provided by the Laredo Licensed U.S. Customs Brokers

MEETING WITH ALFA ON 02/02/2010

On Feb. 2, Jose Gonzalez, LLUSCBA Mexican Broker Liason Arturo Dominguez and Rafael Orduña met with several board members of ALFA to discuss issues that affect both associations.

In-bond Program (IE) and changes that could affect the operations of day to day business
HAZ-MAT at WTB and working with the city management on progressing with this issue
A meeting will be arranged in the next couple of weeks with the Mayor, LLUSCBA board & committee members, the Board of the Mexican Brokers Association and ALFA to have a discussion on more involvement with the respective associations on local matters that affect international trade.

Both Associations agreed to have a closer relationship and communication among each other to forge a strong forefront with local and federal officials when it comes to critical issues

RESULTS FROM CUSTOMS MONTHLY MEETING ON 02/03/2010

On Tuesday 6/05 the monthly meeting with U.S. Customs, USDA, FDA and the local trade was held with issues that affect our local industry. Please see minutes for results and discussions, Minutes are also posted on the members section of the website. www.lluscba.org

RESULTS FROM THAILAND DELEGATION PRESENTATION ON 02/04/2010

On Feb.4,2010 Jose Gonzalez and Victor Gonzalez attended a presentation at the LDF office with City Management, ALFA, LMA and LDF officials with a delegation sent by the Thailand Government to look at the port of Laredo/Nuevo Laredo Infrastructure and  trade information. The delegation spent two days in the area and they were referred to the Port of Laredo from Austin because we were recognized as the most efficient port due to the volume we currently handle.    
  
RECOMMENDATION FROM LLUSCBA LEGAL COUNSEL

Freight Forwarders cannot be designated as the importer of record.
It has been brought to our attention that CBP in Laredo has recently been auditing entries from customs brokers in which freight forwarders are serving as the importer of record. CBP is advising the customs broker that a freight forwarder cannot serve as the importer of record. Customs ruling HQ115110 supports CBP’s position and is included in this email for your review. Please be aware of CBP’s audit and if necessary, change your practices.

LLUSCBA advises customs brokers against serving as the importer of record for their clients.
Only the owner or purchaser of the merchandise, or, when appropriately designated by the owner, purchaser, or consignee of the merchandise, a licensed customs broker can serve as the importer of record. The LLUSCBA strongly advises against having the customs broker serve as the importer of record as this places additional liability on the customs broker’s bond. Furthermore, when the customs broker serves as the importer of record, it is undertaking the liability for country of origin markings, lacey act declarations, intellectual property right issues, changes to classification and/or duty rate at time of liquidation, etc. and therefore the customs broker may be held liable for additional payments to CBP or other government agencies for several years after the importation. These additional payments are secured with the customs broker’s bond and failure to take care of the charges may prevent the customs broker from getting a bond thereby effectively terminating the customs broker’s ability to work.

RESULTS FROM MEETING WITH CBP IN REFERENCE TO AMS INTENSIVE MESSAGE RESPONSE ISSUE

On Feb. 5, LLUSCBA representatives met with CBP to see if intensive hold messages sent from CBP to the AMS system could be viewed when the specific In-bond was queried. In review of the In-bond information, the Customs ACE representative and a software provider recommended that brokers contact their ACE/ABI software providers and request an update with the disposition codes on their respective software.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

LLUSCBA Board Meeting Chamber Conference Room February 17 2010 9:00 AM
LLUSCBA Board Association Meeting Embassy Suites February 24 2010 8:30 AM
The City of Laredo and the Federation of Central American Chamber of Exporters First Business Round Table Conference February 24-26, 2010
CBP Monthly Association Meeting LCC March 3 2010 8:30 AM
NCBFAA’s 36th Annual Conference, April 11-14, 2010, at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa, San Antonio, Texas.

SUGESTIONS AND OPINIONS

We are presented this briefing to inform our members of our involvement of the Association on meetings held this week by members of the board and committee members, this administration would like to keep the association members updated of the outcome of any meetings and any changes that could affect our industry. We can only succeed as an effective association with complete cooperation from the members as well as the affiliate members. We will openly accept any recommendations and suggestions in order for us to be successful in our mission for a united voice. If you know a fellow colleague that is not currently a member, please try to enlist him in order to create a stronger voice.
 

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