CBP’s Office of Trade Relations are hosting webinars during the first few weeks of June. These webinars will provide an overview of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), as well as strategies on implementation of the act before it goes into effect on June 21st.

The UFLPA establishes a rebuttable presumption that the importation of any goods, wares, articles, and merchandise mined, produced, or manufactured wholly or in part in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China, or produced by certain entities, is prohibited by Section 307 of the Tariff Act of 1930 and that such goods are not entitled to entry to the United States.

CBP is also urging all importers to do their due diligence and review their supply chains to ensure their goods are not being produced with forced labor before UFLPA is implemented.

• Wednesday, June 1, 2022, 10:00 –11:00 a.m. EDT
• Tuesday, June 7, 2022, 1:00 – 2:00p.m. EDT
• Thursday, June 16, 2022, 2:00 –3:00 p.m. EDT

CBP recently expanded their Antidumping/Countervailing Duties & Trade remedies web page. This site has links with the latest information on trade remedies for Sections 201, 232 and 301, AD/CVD information, FAQ’s, Informed Compliance Publications, guides on different trade policies, and a searchable public message system. This site will be an incredibly helpful tool for importers looking to get their products through customs efficiently and avoid delays.

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On May 9th, the Department of Commerce announced that the Section 232 Tariffs on Ukrainian steel will be lifted for one year. This follows similar tariff suspensions on Ukraine-originating goods by other allied countries around the world. Ukraine’s steel industry is one of the most important parts of their economy and employs a significant portion of the country. This suspension will provide relief to this industry, allowing for additional export opportunities as their steel mills begin production again.

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The US Commerce Department will require aluminum licensing applications to note “country of largest smelt” and “country of second largest smelt” starting June 29, 2022. This means that importers bringing in aluminum products will need to identify on their applications the country in which the largest and second largest volumes of new aluminum are being produced. There was a one year grace period allowed for importers to use “Unknown” in these fields as they collected the information they would need to meet the requirement. This grace period will expire June 28th, and moving forward, all aluminum import license applications will require these fields to be filled for the aluminum licensing application to be considered.

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The FDA recently released updated guidance on Foreign Supplier Verification Programs for Food Importers (FSVP), requiring that every entry line of food being imported to the US has a unique facility identifier (UFI). Earlier guidance allowed for using “UNK” (unknown) in place of the DUNS number in the UFI field, as this was a new requirement and importers would need time to gather the necessary information. As of July 24th, 2022, the FDA will no longer allow the use of “UNK” in the UFI field. All foods subject to FSVP must have the corresponding DUNS number in the UFI field of each entry. Moving forward, CBP will reject any entry line for foods subject to FSVP if there is no DUNS provided.

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Last month, CBP announced that they would be sending Known Importer Letters to importers that imported goods that may be subject to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA). Since then, approximately 400 letters have been sent to importers across the US. There are two versions of this letter, one for importers that are part of the Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT), and one for those who are not. The CTPAT letters have additional language noting that the importer may be removed from the CTPAT program if they are in violation of UFLPA. CBP is urging all importers to thoroughly review their supply chains before implementation of UFLPA on June 21st.

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Summer starts on June 21st, and experts say we are in for a hot one this year! Meteorologists are predicting above-average temperatures across the US, particularly in the North and Midwest. Here are some tips to keep you and your family cool as we enter the sunniest season of the year:

• MAKE SURE YOU ARE HYDRATED! – This cannot be emphasized enough. Hydration is key to keeping your body temperature regulated. Drink plenty of cool water or sports drinks with electrolytes and stay away from coffee or other drinks that can dehydrate you.
• Eat a popsicle – Frozen treats are a fantastic way to keep you cool when it’s hot out. As a bonus, a tasty frozen popsicle can double as a mini ice pack if you’re really burning up!
• Dress appropriately – When dressing for the heat, make sure to wear lightly colored loose clothing made of breathable fabrics like cotton or linen. Strap on some sandals or flip-flops to reduce feet sweat. Don a hat and put on some sunglasses to keep your head cool and block UV rays from the summer sun.
• Eat something spicy – Yes, you read that correctly. Eating spicy food might not be comfortable for everyone, especially in the heat. However, spicy foods can improve your circulation, which causes you to sweat more, and sweat cools the body. Who knew that a dash of hot sauce could keep you cool as cucumber?
• Freeze your sheets – Getting to sleep when it’s hot is just the worst. Combat warm nights with cold sheets! Strange as it sounds, putting your sheets in the freezer shortly before bedtime will help you cool down when you go to bed. You can also try keeping freezing gel packs between your sheets to keep you cool throughout the night.

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