February 18, 2025, Request for Information Fabric for Space Force Mess Dress.
February 13, 2025, Berets, Men, Wool (Various Colors).
February 13, 2025, Women's Service Hat, Drill Instructor, Army Green 489.
On February 14, 2025, U.S. Customs and Border Protection published in the Federal Register (90 FR 9629) Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee.
DATES: The COAC will meet on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST). Please note the meeting may close early if the committee has completed its business. Registration to attend in-person and comments must be submitted no later than February 28, 2025.
DATES: The COAC will meet on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST). Please note the meeting may close early if the committee has completed its business. Registration to attend in-person and comments must be submitted no later than February 28, 2025.
AGENDA:
The COAC will hear from the current subcommittees on the topics listed below:
1. The Intelligent Enforcement Subcommittee will provide updates on the work completed and topics discussed in its working groups. The Antidumping/Countervailing Duty (AD/CVD) Working Group will provide updates regarding its work and discussions on importer compliance with AD/CVD and other trade remedy measures and requirements. The Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Process Modernization Working Group will provide updates concerning progress associated with its proposed recommendations specific to IPR enforcement and facilitation. The Forced Labor Working Group (FLWG) will submit proposed recommendations and provide updates on continued discussions regarding trade outreach and clarification of requirements. The FLWG will continue to provide CBP with input, as CBP rolls out a case management portal and a new version of the ``Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) U.S. Customs and Border Protection Operational Guidance for Importers''. The Bond Working Group remained on hiatus status since the last public meeting.
2. The Next Generation Facilitation Subcommittee will provide updates on all its existing working groups. The Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) 2.0 Working Group was focused on a discussion on the ACE 2.0 high level roadmap and clarification on some of the proposed capabilities such as blanket entries and correction processes. The Broker Modernization Working Group (BMWG) remains dedicated to the enhancement of the end user experience and improving the administration of the Customs Broker Licensing Exam (CBLE). This quarter, the Modernized Entry Processes Working Group (MEPWG) continues its National Customs Automation Program (NCAP) discussions and will provide updates on its efforts concerning the reconciliation test. The MEPWG will provide updates regarding areas where CBP could provide further guidance on the Broker Cybersecurity Incident Procedures in the form of Frequently Asked Questions. The remaining working group, the Customs Interagency Industry Working Group (CIIWG), was not active this past quarter but will provide a report on topics that the working group will focus on in the coming quarter.
3. The Secure Trade Lanes Subcommittee will provide updates on its seven active working groups: the Centers Working Group, the Cross-Border Recognition Working Group, the De Minimis Working Group, the Export Modernization Working Group, the FTZ/Warehouse Working Group, the Pipeline Working Group, and the Trade Partnership and Engagement Working Group. The proposed recommendations presented by the De Minimis Automation Task Force in the December meeting will be put forward for a vote in the March meeting. These proposed recommendations could not be voted on at the December meeting, due to the lack of quorum for COAC. The Export Modernization Working Group met to discuss the rail Electronic Export Manifest after much anticipation for its release. The Export Modernization Working Group continues the discussion on progressive filing in the export environment. The Drawback Task Force, within the Export Modernization Working Group, met to discuss the general rulings and the drawback desk review process and hopes to submit proposed recommendations this quarter surrounding the streamlining of the manufacturing rulings process. The Centers Working Group continues to meet within the Structure and Operations Sub-Working Groups. The Centers Working Group continues to evaluate previous the recommendations that were put forward and will determine if any additional proposed recommendations may come from that review and with new topics that are discussed within the Sub-Working Groups. The FTZ/Warehouse Working Group continues to review 19 CFR part 146 and intends to have proposed recommendations for review surrounding ACE functionality for the March public meeting. The Pipeline Working Group has not met yet this quarter and will not have any proposed recommendations. The Cross-Border Recognition Working group has not met this quarter and will finalize the evaluation for the Statement of Work to determine next steps.
Meeting materials will be available on February 24, 2025, at: https://www.cbp.gov/trade/stakeholder-engagement/coac/coac-public-meetings.
On February 12, 2025, U.S. Customs and Border Protection published in the Federal Register (90 FR 9431) Amended Notice of Implementation of Additional Duties on Products of the People’s Republic of China Pursuant to the President’s February 1, 2025 Executive Order Imposing Duties To Address the Synthetic Opioid Supply Chain in the People’s Republic of China.
Monday, February 17, 2025, is a federal holiday in the United States honoring George Washington's birthday. Government offices, banks, and some businesses will be closed in observance of the holiday which is annually celebrated on the third Monday in February. Because the date typically falls between the actual calendar date birthdays of presidents Washington and Lincoln, it is commonly called "Presidents Day," although the official designation is "Washington's Birthday."
"The great rule of conduct for us in regard to foreign nations is in extending our commercial relations, to have with them as little political connection as possible. So far as we have already formed engagements, let them be fulfilled with perfect good faith. Here let us stop." -- George Washington’s Farewell Address, 1796.
Poor George, both revered and kicked around by us. He was born February 11th but when he was 20 Britain and her colonies finally caught up with Catholic Europe by switching to the Gregorian Calendar, moving his birthday to the 22nd of the month. Then, starting in 1971, the Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1968 moved the official celebration of his birth to the third Monday in February. In popular parlance we slight our first President by neglecting the legal name of the holiday, WASHINGTON’S BIRTHDAY and refer to it as a generic "Presidents’ Day."
We likewise neglect Washington's sage warning against entangling foreign alliances. Even in our commercial relations our leaders, not content merely to trade with the rest of the world, have entered into binding agreements restricting our ability to control our own commerce, to encourage domestic manufacturing, or even to protect our citizens from unsafe products.
On November 5, 2024, the American people finally said, "Enough," and elected a President who promised to put the interest of the American people first. President Donald J. Trump has begun fulfilling that promise. Below are some Presidential actions putting America first, with citations of publication in the Federal Register and excerpts from the actions.
Executive Order 14199 of February 4, 2025, Withdrawing the United States From and Ending Funding to Certain United Nations Organizations and Reviewing United States Support to All International Organizations (90 FR 9275, February 10, 2025).
"Three UN organizations that deserve renewed scrutiny are the UNHRC; the UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO); and the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)."
Executive Order 14162 of January 20, 2025, Putting America First in International Environmental Agreements (90 FR 8455, January 30, 2025).
"In recent years, the United States has purported to join international agreements and initiatives that do not reflect our country’s values or our contributions to the pursuit of economic and environmental objectives. Moreover, these agreements steer American taxpayer dollars to countries that do not require, or merit, financial assistance in the interests of the American people." "The United States Ambassador to the United Nations shall immediately submit formal written notification of the United States’ withdrawal from the Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The notice shall be submitted to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the Depositary of the Agreement, attached as Appendix A. The United States will consider its withdrawal from the Agreement and any attendant obligations to be effective immediately upon this provision of notification."
Executive Order 14169 of January 20, 2025, Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid (90 FR 8619, January 30, 2025).
"The United States foreign aid industry and bureaucracy are not aligned with American interests and in many cases antithetical to American values. They serve to destabilize world peace by promoting ideas in foreign countries that are directly inverse to harmonious and stable relations internal to and among countries."
Executive Order 14150 of January 20, 2025, America First Policy Directive to the Secretary of State (90 FR 8337, January 29, 2025).
"From this day forward, the foreign policy of the United States shall champion core American interests and always put America and American citizens first."
Executive Order 14155 of January 20, 2025, Withdrawing the United States From the World Health Organization (90 FR 8361, January 29, 2025).
"The United States noticed its withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2020 due to the organization’s mishandling of the COVID–19 pandemic that arose out of Wuhan, China, and other global health crises, its failure to adopt urgently needed reforms, and its inability to demonstrate independence from the inappropriate political influence of WHO member states. In addition, the WHO continues to demand unfairly onerous payments from the United States, far out of proportion with other countries’ assessed payments. China, with a population of 1.4 billion, has 300 percent of the population of the United States, yet contributes nearly 90 percent less to the WHO."
PROMISES MADE. PROMISES KEPT.
February 10, 2025, Bernard Cap LLC,* Hialeah, Florida, has been awarded a maximum $8,966,974 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for men’s and women’s white jumpers. This was a competitive acquisition with seven responses received. This is a five-year contract with no option periods. The ordering period end date is Feb. 9, 2030. Using military service is Navy. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2025 through 2030 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE1C1-25-D-0037).
*Small business
This recall involves TravisMathew adult women’s half-zip sweatshirts and women’s and men’s full-zip and no-zip hoodies in various colors and styles, including: women’s Chance Encounter Half-Zip Sweatshirts (Heather Copen Blue, Heather Mauve Shadows), women’s Save the Day Half-Zip Sweatshirts (Heather Natural, Heather Winetasting), women’s Off Script Zip-Up Hoodies (Heather Light Gray, Heather Crown Blue), men’s Cloud Hoodies (LAD Black, NYY Heather Gray, BRS Heather Gray, CHC Heather Gray, USC Black, USC Heather Gray), men’s In the Rain Hoodies (Black, Heather Gray), men’s Cloud Hoodie 2.0s (Black, Moonbeam, Dark Olive, Ash Blue, Mood Indigo), and men’s Abject Lesson Hoodies (Black, Heather Gray). Some of the hoodies have sports, brands or beer company logos. They were sold in sizes S to XXL. A neck label lists “TRAVISMATHEW”, the size, and “MADE IN PERU”. The front of the side-seam label lists the fiber content, “RN123280”, “CA07099” and “MADE IN PERU”. The back of the side seam label lists washing instructions and batch code information.
Remedy: Consumers should stop using the recalled garments immediately and contact TravisMathew for a full refund or store credit for the original purchase price. Consumers will be asked to destroy the garments by cutting them in half and disposing of them. Consumers must send a photo of the destroyed garment and sewn-in garment tag to info@travismathew.com. Upon receipt of the photo, consumers will receive a full refund or store credit at the purchase price.
Incidents/Injuries: None reported
Sold At: TravisMathew and independent clothing and golf course stores nationwide and online at TravisMathew.com and other websites from January 2024 through October 2024 for between $130 and $180.
Importer(s): TravisMathew LLC, of Huntington Beach, California
Manufactured In: Peru
Recall number: 25-118
More information and photos HERE.
February 6, 2025, FRM Socks LLC, doing business as Fox River Mills, Osage, Iowa, has been awarded a maximum $11,796,375 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for cold weather socks system. This was a competitive acquisition with four responses received. This is a three-year contract with no option periods. The ordering period end date is Feb. 5, 2028. Using military services are Army and Air Force. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2025 through 2028 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE1C1-25-D-0038).
