OTEXA: August 2014 Textile and Apparel Import Report
ITA - Office of Textiles and Apparel / http://otexa.ita.doc.gov/
[10/03/2014] – August 2014 Textile and Apparel Import Report
Columbus Day Weekend Could Cause Increased Delays at Local Crossings
U.S. Customs & Border Protection / http://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/local-media-release/2014-10-07-000000/columbus-day-weekend-could-cause-increased-delays
BUFFALO, N.Y. – As part of U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s mission to safeguard the nation’s borders, CBP is offering the following guidance on how to expedite border crossings for travelers returning through Western New York’s ports of entry this holiday weekend.
- Prepare for the inspection process before arriving at the inspection booth. Have your WHTI (Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative) or RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) enabled documents in hand before reaching primary inspection. Travelers should declare all items acquired abroad. Additionally, individuals should end cellular phone conversations before arriving at the inspection booth. Travelers should also have their windows rolled down for inspection and remove any sunglasses and hats prior to entering the inspection area.
- Travelers are encouraged to visit the Know Before You Go section of the CBP website. To avoid fines and penalties associated with the importation of restricted or prohibited items become educated prior to traveling, this includes agriculture products.
- Allow for extra time and check border wait times in case of exceptionally heavy traffic. Travelers should check traffic conditions at the four border crossings within the Buffalo/Niagara region and select the crossing that is least congested. Travelers can easily obtain current border traffic conditions at the Advisories and Wait Times section on CBP.gov.
- Cross-border travelers are encouraged to participate in the NEXUS program. NEXUS allows pre-screened, low-risk travelers to proceed with little or no delay into the United States and Canada. Application forms are available on the Canada Border Services Agency website at www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca and travelers can apply online at www.cbp.gov. Additionally, NEXUS information is available toll-free at 1-866-NEXUS 26 (1-866-639-8726).
For more information on what to expect at a port of entry, document requirements, and prohibited or restricted items, travelers can visit the Travel section of the CBP.gov website.
A new downloadable checklist is also now available that can be accessed on your smartphone or device to help you travel smart when traveling internationally.
CBP Seizes $500K in Fake Goods
U.S. Customs & Border Protection / http://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/local-media-release/2014-10-03-000000/cbp-seizes-500k-fake-goods
HOUSTON – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Houston/Galveston seaport seized over 200 counterfeit handbags and nearly 50 packages of plastic building blocks, Sept. 29, with an estimated Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price of more than $500,000.Infrastructure enhancements play a critical role in the improvement of trade and travel facilitation. CBP faces a growing.
“Intercepting counterfeit goods protects the trademark holder, the unsuspecting consumer, and strengthens the U.S. economy,” said Houston CBP Area Port Director Dave Fluty. “Import safety and protecting intellectual property rights are priority trade issues. We will take every opportunity to intercept counterfeit goods entering through this port.”
The shipment, which originated from China, was manifested as bags, plastic toys and jewelry. However, when CBP officers examined the shipment, cartons of women’s handbags bearing counterfeit Prada, Christian Dior, Michael Kors, and other name brands were discovered. Also in the shipment were cartons of plastic building blocks bearing the Lego brand.
CBP officers provided images of the items to the different trademark holders who each confirmed that the imported handbags and building blocks were counterfeit and confusingly similar to the genuine brand. The import specialists determined the MSRP value of the goods. The seized items, which were enroute to a Houston store, will be destroyed. Homeland Security Investigations is investigating.
Last year, CBP seized more than $4.7 million in intellectual property rights violations nationwide. Handbags and wallets were the highest valued seized goods with an MSRP estimate of more than $700 million, up from more than $500 million in 2012.
To enforce intellectual property rights, CBP relies on trademark owners registering with the Patent and Trademark Office and by recording the trade name with CBP at e-Recordation.
Related information about intellectual property rights is available at the IPR center.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers Seize Nearly $1.3 Million in Marijuana at the Rio Grande City Port of Entry
U.S.Customs & Border Protection / http://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/local-media-release/2014-10-08-000000/us-customs-and-border-protection-officers-seize
Rio Grande City, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Rio Grande City International Bridge discovered a large amount of alleged marijuana valued at approximately $1,296,300 concealed within a commercial shipment of chile peppers.
“Our frontline CBP officers stopped this large load of alleged marijuana because of their vigilance and dedication. I congratulate our officers for an outstanding job with this seizure,” said Port Director Severiano Solis, Rio Grande City Port of Entry.
On Oct. 2, CBP officers at the Rio Grande City International Bridge commercial importation lot came in contact with a 2003 Kenworth single cab tractor hauling a trailer with a shipment of assorted chile peppers. Examination by CBP officers in secondary revealed 205 packages commingled with the shipment of chile peppers. CBP officers removed the packages from within the crates which had a combined total weight of 1,296.3 pounds of alleged marijuana.
The alleged marijuana from this seizure has an estimated street value of approximately $1,296,300. CBP officers turned the case over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations special agents for further investigation. CBP officers seized the narcotics, the tractor and trailer.
CBP's Rio Grande City Port of Entry is part of the South Texas Campaign, which leverages federal, state and local resources to combat transnational criminal organizations.
USITC: News Releases
U.S. International Trade Commssion / http://www.usitc.gov/press_room/news_release/2014/er0930mm1.htm
News Release: Sec. 337 Inv. -- Stainless Steel Products [10/6/2014]
News Release: Sec. 337 Inv. -- Consumer Electronics and Display Devices with Graphics Processing and Graphics Processing Units Therein [10/6/2014]
Commission Adequacy Determination -- Tow-behind Lawn Groomers from China [10/6/2014]
ITA: Press Releases
International Trade Administration / http://www.trade.gov/press/press-releases/
10/07/2014 Commerce Finds Dumping of Imports of Non-Oriented Electrical Steel (NOES) from China, Germany, Japan, Korea, Sweden, and Taiwan, Countervailable Subsidization of Imports of NOES from China and Taiwan, and No Countervailable Subsidization of Imports of NOES from Korea
CBP Officers in San Diego Find More Than Three Tons of Marijuana Hidden in Cargo Shipment
U.S. Customs & Border Protection / http://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/local-media-release/2014-10-06-000000/cbp-officers-san-diego-find-more-three-tons-marijuana
OTAY MESA, Calif. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Otay Mesa cargo port of entry Friday seized more than three tons of marijuana hidden in a cargo shipment.
“My officers not only need to enforce typical import and export laws, but also need to be vigilant for smuggling attempts like this,” said Otay Mesa Cargo Port Director Rosa Hernandez. “From the first officer that referred this truck and shipment for an x-ray exam, to each officer down the line, they used the tools at their disposal to find and seize this large shipment, potentially taking about $4 million from the bankroll of a criminal organization.”
At about 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 3, a driver arrived at the Otay Mesa crossing with a cargo shipment identified as “Signaling Lights Accessories.” The CBP officer conducting the inspection referred the truck and shipment for an x-ray examination.
During the x-ray exam, CBP officers identified an anomaly and sent the truck and shipment to the dock for a more intensive examination.
At the dock, a CBP officer with a human-narcotic detector dog screened the truck, and the canine alerted to the trailer. A CBP officer climbed into the trailer and opened a box labeled “mecanico.” Inside, the officer found a plastic-wrapped package.
In total, officers found 295 packages hidden inside the boxes, containing about 6,624 pounds of marijuana with an estimated street value of approximately $4 million.
CBP officers turned the driver, a 43-year-old male Mexican citizen with a valid border crossing card, over to agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations. CBP officers canceled his border crossing card, and he was booked into the Metropolitan Correctional Center. CBP officers seized the tractor, trailer, cargo shipment, and narcotics.
Marking Upcoming Second Anniversary of Hurricane Sandy, Secretary Jewell Tours Coastal Resiliency Projects in New Jersey
U.S. Department of the Interior / http://www.doi.gov/news/pressreleases/marking-upcoming-second-anniversary-of-hurricane-sandy-secretary-jewell-tours-coastal-resiliency-projects-in-new-jersey.cfm
Partnerships restore and strengthen beaches and tidal marshes that provide fish and wildlife habitat, storm protection, economic opportunities
CAPE MAY, NJ – On the cusp of the second anniversary of Hurricane Sandy, Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell today toured restoration projects at Reed’s Beach and Cape May National Wildlife Refuge to repair and strengthen beaches and tidal marsh habitat in New Jersey and the Delaware Bay as part of the Obama Administration’s efforts to improve coastal resiliency on the Atlantic Coast.
“Hurricane Sandy was a wake-up call about the vulnerability of coastal communities and their economies to dangerous storms,” said Jewell. “With extreme weather events expected to become more frequent and more intense due to climate change, it’s critical that we continue to make strategic investments in our natural resources, like these restoration efforts in New Jersey that build community and economic resilience up and down the Atlantic coast.”
Jewell toured a completed $1.65 million project at Reed’s Beach to restore 1.5 miles of shoreline undertaken in partnership with the American Littoral Society. The project included removal of more than 800 tons of debris and placement of more than 45,000 tons of locally mined sand. Reed’s Beach is a critically important stopover area for shorebirds, including red knots that migrate from South America to the Arctic each spring and use the beaches of Delaware Bay to feed on horseshoe crab eggs for the energy needed to complete their journey.
Jewell also toured salt marshes at Cape May National Wildlife Refuge that will be restored under a $1.9 million agreement between the Service and the American Littoral Society. The project is part of a $15 million investment to restore coastal salt marshes in New Jersey. In addition to flood control benefits, salt marshes are vital wildlife habitat serving as a nursery for 75 percent of commercially harvested fish.
Coastal areas also are vital to the region’s economy. According to a 2006 report by the Center for Regional and Business Research at Atlantic Cape Community College, eco-tourism generates over $522 million annually in Cape May County.
“Wildlife refuges in the region serve as natural buffers to protect nearby communities but they also provide important economic opportunities,” said Jewell. “From birding to boating, investments to restore these natural areas in Cape May will pay big dividends to the local economy.”
Overall, the Department of the Interior is investing $787 million on recovery and resiliency projects up and down the Atlantic Coast in the aftermath of Sandy. The funding will help protect coastal communities and their economies from the next super storm and the long-term impacts of climate change.