However, the Government Accountability Office found problems in how CBP checks these claims. For example, CBP's new electronic records system doesn't include enough details on exports. CBP must manually check claims but currently isn't doing so. It could be issuing refunds it shouldn't issue.
Read the report HERE.
USTR Section 301-China webpage.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Section 301 HTSUS Reference Guide.
"Counterfeit goods not only threaten our national security by endangering the health and safety of consumers, they also can wreak havoc on our economy and fund criminal elements involved in a range of other illegal activities," said CBP Director of Field Operations for Boston Michael Denning at the event.
Handbags, watches and clothing are the items most identified as frequently-counterfeited items. The event emphasized that intellectual property thieves will counterfeit any product that can be sold or marketed. This means items like counterfeit drugs, medical equipment, aircraft and automobile parts, computer hardware, military components, and electrical safety devices.
In April 2018, CBP intercepted an international parcel containing six counterfeit Toyota airbags, shipped by Ali Mufrej. HSI agents on the Seattle Border Enforcement Security Task Force (BEST) initiated an investigation into Mufrej and determined he was associated with a large volume of shipments of counterfeit vehicle airbags and auto parts being sold online.
On Dec. 12, 2018, HSI BEST-Seattle arrested Mufrej for multiple counts of trafficking counterfeit goods. HSI special agents also executed a search warrant at Mufrej's residence in Des Moines. During the execution of the search warrant, agents located and seized counterfeit airbags, airbag inflators, airbag covers, automaker emblems, electronic devices and miscellaneous documents relating to the shipment and sale of counterfeit airbags. The counterfeit airbags were found to pose significant risk to consumers.
On Dec. 17, 2019, Ali Mufrej was sentenced to five years of probation and ordered to pay a $5,000 fine. He has previously pled guilty to violations of criminal copyright infringement-accessory after the fact.
For more background read Agathon Associations May 1, 2019 blog.
Thanks to two brand new scholarships, AATCC Foundation Inc. will provide more funding than ever to students in textile and related fields. For the 2020-2021 academic year, the AATCC Foundation will award more than 35 scholarships and fellowships, worth nearly $150,000. Students can find and apply for scholarships through one easy online application.
The two newest scholarships in the AATCC Foundation portfolio are the NCTO Paul T. O’Day Scholarship and the Percy W. Woodruff Jr Textile Manufacturing Scholarship.
NCTO Paul T. O’Day Scholarship
NCTO President & CEO Kimberly Glas says, “The Paul O’Day Memorial Scholarship was created to honor a man whose influence and legacy in the fiber sector of the textile industry was revered as he served as President of the American Fiber Manufacturers Association (AFMA) for more than three decades.”
Since the 2018 merger of AFMA with the National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO), the scholarship is awarded to children of employees at NCTO Fiber Council member companies. Glas says, “The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) is pleased to partner with the AATCC Foundation to promote this scholarship and select recipients with outstanding academic achievements who desire to choose career paths to support the American fiber industry.”
The O’Day Scholarship provides $5,000 per year to an undergraduate student, renewable for up to four years.
Percy W. Woodruff Jr Textile Manufacturing Scholarship
The Woodruff Textile Manufacturing Scholarship is named for Percy W. Woodruff, Jr., who was a non-traditional university student. Despite working several jobs, the only way Woodruff could afford to complete his college education was through the GI Bill as a WWII veteran and income from his wife’s teaching career. After graduating from college with a degree in Textiles, he spent his career in the US textile industry, retiring from Burlington Industries. The Woodruff Scholarship is awarded to other “non-traditional students,” particularly those in the Clemson University Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE). Non-traditional students may be anyone disadvantaged by starting college late or in the wrong major, or any other circumstance.
Recipients of the Woodruff Scholarship receive $2,500. All Foundation scholars are also eligible for free registration and reimbursement of travel funds to attend the AATCC International Conference.
The conference will focus on region-specific sessions, market access, fair trade, disaster preparedness and recovery, logistics, and trade financing resources as well as prearranged one-on-one consultations with US&FCS Commercial Officers and/or Department of State Economic/Commercial Officers with expertise in markets throughout the region. The mission is open to U.S. companies from a cross-section of industries with growth potential in the Caribbean region, but is focused on U.S. companies in best prospects sectors such as
For more information, see the December 16, 2019, Federal Register Notice (84 FR 68393).
For more information and to register CLICK HERE.
Description: This recall involves Crewcuts boys’ denim pants sold in sizes 2 and 3 and only includes pants that were made in Pakistan. Pants with style number J8406 and season FA 19 are included in the recall. A care label sewn into the side seam lists the style number and season. A label sewn into the waistband of the garment lists the size and country of origin and “Crewcuts.” UPC codes 099105125419 and 099105125420 are listed on the price tag attached to the pants.
Hazard: Small stones can be present in the pockets or waistband of the pants from the stone washing manufacturing process, posing aspiration or choking hazards to young children.
Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the recalled pants away from children and remove the stones from pockets or internal waistband opening to eliminate the hazard
Incidents/Injuries: J. Crew received one report of stones found in the waistband extension of the pants. No injuries have been reported.
Sold At: J. Crew and Crewcuts stores nationwide and online at jcrew.com from July 2019 through October 2019 for about $50.
Importer(s): J. Crew Group Inc., of New York, N.Y.
Manufactured In: Pakistan
Recall number: 20-040
More information and photos HERE.
Since 1982, nearly every Congress has passed legislation to temporarily reduce or suspend tariffs on certain imported products and make technical corrections to U.S. tariff laws. Although the official title of the bill varies from year to year, it is usually referred to simply as the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill ("MTB") The duty suspensions and reductions are designed to boost the competitiveness of U.S. manufacturers by lowering the cost of imported inputs without harming domestic firms that produce competing products. In addition, in the case of finished goods, MTBs similarly reduce costs for consumers where there is no domestic production and thus no impact on domestic firms. Overall, the tariff relief contained in MTBs is designed both to be broadly available to any entity that imports and pays duties pursuant to the specified tariff heading and to benefit downstream producers, purchasers, and consumers.
To be included in the MTB, a tariff modification (e.g. duty suspension or reduction) must:
In determining whether an MTB meets these criteria, each bill undergoes a thorough vetting process by the Committee; the independent U.S. International Trade Commission ("ITC") and the Administration, including the Department of Commerce ("DOC") and U.S. Customs and Border Protection ("CBP"); and is scored by the Congressional Budget Office ("CBO").
