Holiday Closures:
• PierPass - Terminals at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have announced schedules for the Thanksgiving holiday period of Thursday Nov. 23 through Sunday Nov. 26, 2023. The PierPASS/PortCheck Service Center will be CLOSED on Thursday, 11/23 for Thanksgiving and will have limited hours on Friday, 11/24 from 6 AM to 3 PM PST. PierPASS & PortCheck customers who plan to move containers over the holiday weekend should ensure that containers are properly claimed during business hours on Wednesday, Nov. 22nd to avoid any delays.
• PNCT & Maher Terminal will be closed Thursday, November 23, 2023
• USITC will close at 1:15 P.M. ET on Wednesday, November 22, 2023, for the Thanksgiving Holiday. The USITC will reopen for business at 8:45 A.M. ET on Friday, November 24, 2023
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**Management of Customs Ports of Entry and Customs Stations - U.S. Customs & Border Protection / Federal Register
AGENCY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection, DHS.
ACTION: Final rule.
SUMMARY: In this final rule, the Department of Homeland Security clarifies that the Secretary of Homeland Security has the authority to establish, rearrange or consolidate, and discontinue Customs ports of entry and Customs stations and revises the Customs and Border Protection regulations to reflect this clarification.
DATES: This rule is effective on November 16, 2023.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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**Federal Register Notices:
• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Certain Quartz Surface Products From India: Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, and Final Determination of No Shipments; 2021-2022
• Certain Large Vertical Shaft Engines Between 225CC and 999CC, and Parts Thereof From the People's Republic of China: Rescission of 2022-2023 Antidumping and 2022 Countervailing Duty Administrative Reviews
• Investigations; Determinations, Modifications, and Rulings, etc.: Drawn Stainless Steel Sinks From China; Scheduling of an Expedited Five-Year Reviews
• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Certain Quartz Surface Products From India: Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, and Final Determination of No Shipments; 2021-2022
• Certain Large Vertical Shaft Engines Between 225CC and 999CC, and Parts Thereof From the People's Republic of China: Rescission of 2022-2023 Antidumping and 2022 Countervailing Duty Administrative Reviews
• Investigations; Determinations, Modifications, and Rulings, etc.: Drawn Stainless Steel Sinks From China; Scheduling of an Expedited Five-Year Reviews
• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Paper File Folders From the People's Republic of China, India, and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam: Antidumping Duty Orders; and Paper File Folders From India: Countervailing Duty Order
• Non-Refillable Steel Cylinders From the People's Republic of China: Affirmative Preliminary Determination of Circumvention of the Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Orders
• Frozen Warmwater Shrimp From Ecuador, India, Indonesia, and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam: Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigations
• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts From Belgium, Colombia, and Thailand; Scheduling of Full Five-Year Reviews
• Investigations; Determinations, Modifications, and Rulings, etc.: USMCA Automotive Rules of Origin: Economic Impact and Operation, 2025 Report
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** Advisory for Nov. 17 to 27, including Extended Thanksgiving Holiday - Port of NY/NJ
More than 8.5 Million Travelers Expected to Use Port Authority Airports and Bridges and Tunnels During Extended Thanksgiving Holiday Travel Period; Plan Ahead for Heavy Traffic, Longer Wait Times at Airports
Port Authority Will Suspend Non-Emergency Lane Closures at Vehicle Crossings From 5 a.m. Friday, Nov. 17, Through 5 a.m. Monday, Nov. 27
PATH to Operate on Saturday Schedule on Thanksgiving Day and a Modified Weekday Schedule on Friday, Nov. 24
Air Travelers Should Arrive to Airports at Least 2 to 3 Hours Prior to Departure Depending on Destination, Anticipate Longer Waits at TSA Security Checkpoints
Port Authority, MTA Strongly Encourage Public Transit Use to Airports; Air Travelers Advised to Pre-Book to Guarantee Parking at Airports
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced today that more than 8.5 million travelers are expected to use its airports and vehicular crossings during an extended 8-day peak travel period beginning Monday, Nov. 20, to Monday, Nov. 27. The Port Authority expects to serve the most Thanksgiving air travelers and motorists ever due to the proliferation of flexible and remote work arrangements helping to elongate the travel period.
The agency estimates that approximately 5.4 million vehicles will use its bridges and tunnels over the 8-day period, which would be similar to vehicular volume over the same eight days in pre-pandemic in 2019. To accommodate anticipated significant vehicular volume, all lane closures for non-emergency construction at its crossings are suspended now through 5 a.m. Monday, Nov. 27.
During the same period, nearly 3.1 million air passengers are expected to use the agency’s airports. The total would top the previous Thanksgiving travel record set in 2022, when just under 3 million air travelers used Port Authority’s airports. Demand for international travel is expected to be robust, with a 12 percent increase in seat capacity across the agency’s major airports compared to last year’s Thanksgiving travel period.
The Port Authority strongly encourages all travelers to plan ahead and allow for additional travel time. Travelers should expect longer wait times due to higher passenger volume, ongoing construction and possible staffing shortages at security checkpoints operated by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). All passengers on domestic flights should arrive to the airport at least two hours in advance of their departure time and passengers on international flights should arrive at the airports at least three hours in advance of their departure times. Travelers are strongly advised to check the Port Authority’s air travel tips for information on preparing for their trips, including how to find real-time wait time information for TSA security lines, information on parking lot availability, AirTrain maps and schedules, directions for public transit or for-hire vehicle information. The Port Authority encourages anyone going to the airports to make parking reservations or plan to take public transit.
All travelers who plan to use the Port Authority’s facilities should note the following service changes that will be in effect from Friday, Nov. 17, to Monday, Nov. 27, and allow for additional travel time:
Airports & AirTrain:
• Through July 2024, outside John F. Kennedy International Airport, the eastbound right lane of North Boundary Road is closed between the FedEx driveway and North Hangar Road due to construction. Follow detour signage for access to the pedestrian walkway and relocated bus shelter.
• Through November 2023, major roadway work on the terminal frontage bridges of Newark Liberty International Airport requires the all-hours closure of one of the three traffic lanes servicing both terminals B and C. The construction work repairs and replaces deteriorating structural components to ensure continued operations and maintain a state of good repair. Check the airport website for updates on this critical work. For more information, click here.
• As a reminder, all rental car companies serving Newark Liberty International Airport now operate out of the new consolidated rental car center that is co-located within the Parking A garage on levels 1 through 3. All rental transactions, including returns, take place at the new center. The facility is connected to Newark Liberty’s terminals B and C via AirTrain Newark, with a direct connection to the new Terminal A via a pedestrian bridge. Passengers exiting the Terminal A can walk across the bridge to arrive on level two of the rental car facility. Drivers should follow “Rental Car Return” roadway signage. For more information, click here.
• Until further notice, the for-hire vehicle pick-up location at John F. Kennedy International Airport’s Terminal 5 will be relocated to Terminal 7’s Orange Garage roof due to airport redevelopment construction. Passengers seeking for-hire vehicle service from Terminal 5 should take AirTrain JFK to Terminal 7 for the Orange Garage. Passengers arriving to Terminal 5 will continue to be dropped off at the Terminal 5 frontage. Signage has been installed to direct passengers to pick-up locations. More details can be found here.
• Until further notice, the taxi stand at John F. Kennedy International Airport’s Terminal 5 has been relocated to the ground level of Terminal 5’s Yellow Parking Garage. Passengers seeking taxi transportation from Terminal 5 are directed to the Yellow Garage via the skywalk on the fifth floor, where passengers may access the new taxi stand using elevators or stairs. Wayfinding signage has been installed along the pedestrian route.
• Until further notice, parking on level 1 of John F. Kennedy International Airport’s Yellow Parking Lot at Terminal 5 is now dedicated for individuals with special needs or disabilities. For customer assistance, parking attendants are available on level 1. All other vehicles must park on levels 2 to 6. Premium Reserved Parking is available on level 5, which is easily accessible to Terminal 5 via the pedestrian skywalk. Electric vehicle charging is available on level 2. Plan ahead by checking parking availability and booking a parking spot in advance.
• As a reminder, peak period parking rates are now in effect at John F. Kennedy International, Newark Liberty International and LaGuardia airports. To manage on-airport parking demand, the Port Authority is urgently calling on air travelers to use mass transit and to pre-book parking spaces if they plan to travel to the airport by private car. Travelers who do not pre-book will be charged a peak period drive-up surcharge and may not be able to find a parking spot at the airport. To avoid paying a higher parking rate and guarantee a parking spot, travelers parking for longer than three hours are strongly encouraged to pre-book parking at least 24 hours in advance. For more information on the updated rates and how to guarantee a parking spot, click here.
• LaGuardia Link Q70 bus service is fare free year-round to encourage the use of public transit to and from LaGuardia Airport, as announced in April 2022 by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul. For information on how to get to the airport via public transit, visit the MTA’s page on travel to LaGuardia Airport.
Bridges & Tunnels:
• From 5 a.m. Friday, Nov. 17, through 5 a.m. Monday, Nov. 27, non-emergency lane closures are suspended at all Port Authority crossings, including overnight closures related to the Superstorm Sandy repair and resiliency project at the Holland Tunnel.
Midtown Bus Terminal & George Washington Bus Station: Customers should check for the most updated trip departure times and itineraries with their individual bus carriers, some of which may be operating on holiday schedules.
PATH:
• On Sunday, Nov. 19, from 12:01 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. PATH service between Journal Square and Harrison stations on the Newark-World Trade Center line will be suspended in both directions for essential track maintenance and repairs. Free alternate bus and rail service will be provided through NJ TRANSIT. Service between Newark-Penn and Harrison stations will be available on the New York-bound platforms. Service between Journal Square and World Trade Center will not be affected. For more information, click here.
• On Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 23, PATH will operate on a Saturday schedule with supplemental service offered mid-day.
• On Friday, Nov. 24, PATH will run modified weekday service during the peak morning and evening hours, with trains scheduled to arrive every ten minutes.
• The southwest entrance to the Harrison station is closed at all hours to accommodate construction underway at the station. During construction, riders are required to use traffic signal pedestrian crossings at Angelo Cifelli Drive and Guyon Drive to access a corresponding station house on the opposite side of Frank E. Rodgers Boulevard.
• Customers who use the PATH World Trade Center station during overnights should use the street level entrances at Fulton Street or Vesey Street via the North Concourse in the 2 World Trade Center transit lobby. Oculus access is limited overnight from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. to allow for enhanced cleaning and the safety and security of customers due to reduced traffic volumes. All other entrances will be closed. For updates on the WTC campus, click here.
• For the Thanksgiving weekend, the 9 St and 23 St stations, normally closed from each midnight to 5 a.m. for maintenance, will remain open.
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**$3.7 Million Dollar Fake Richard Mille Watch Seized by Cincinnati CBP - U.S. Customs & Border Protection
CINCINNATI — Last week, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in Cincinnati seized a shipment containing a counterfeit watch. If the watch--which came from India--had been genuine, this single piece would have been worth over $3.78 million.
On November 16, officers seized the shipment containing a single Richard Mille watch. The shipment originated out of India and was headed to a residence in Palm Beach, Florida. Richard Mille brand offers limited quantity of each style, making each watch model unique. This watch seized was a RM 88 Automatic Winding Tourbillon Smiley. This limited edition was produced only 50 times making it extremely valuable. Black market sellers attempted to reproduce the look-alike Richard Mille RM 88 Smiley, but it takes one glimpse at the merchandise to know it’s a fake. The packaging, lack of fine details, its originating country and the fact that the shipment was uninsured all aided the officer’s determination that the merchandise was a counterfeit.
“CBP encourages honest trade and urges consumers to think twice before purchasing merchandise from unfamiliar online entities,” said Cincinnati Port Director Alrick Brooks. “Purchasing counterfeit goods enables criminal enterprises, and the profits made from these items fund their illicit activities. Officers at the Port of Cincinnati are dedicated to the CBP mission and work attentively for American consumers by stopping the flow of pirated merchandise.”
On November 17, officers seized a second shipment consisting of various counterfeit jewelry and watches with a total Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $846,695. The shipment originated in Hong Kong with a destination of Mesquite, Texas. The shipment consisted of brands including Rolex, Van Cleef, Chanel, and Louis Vuitton to name a few. CBP officers are trained to identify counterfeit merchandise and use their experience to stop the flow of such illicit merchandise in and out of the United States.
All of the counterfeit pieces were determined to be counterfeit by CBP’s Centers for Excellence and Expertise (CEEs), the agency’s trade experts.
“One important job we have at CBP is to protect intellectual property rights for American consumers and businesses,” said LaFonda D. Sutton-Burke, Director of Chicago Field Operations. “With the holidays approaching, consumers need to be ever vigilant when shopping online. Not only is it our job at CBP to stop the flow of counterfeit merchandise, but it is also the job of each consumer. If you notice suspected fraud, please report it.”
There are few ways consumers can safeguard themselves from spending money on imitations:
• Purchase goods directly from the trademark holder or from authorized retailers.
• Know what price the product should be selling for. If the item is prices well below fair market value, it could possibly be counterfeit. If a price seems too good to be true, then it probably is.
• Look for legitimate web sites that offer customer service contact information and return policies.
• Review CBP’s E-Commerce Counterfeit Awareness Guide for Consumers.
More information about the harms associated with the purchase of counterfeit goods is available on CBP’s Truth Behind Counterfeits website and StopFakes.gov. If you have any information regarding suspected fraud or illegal trade activity, please contact CBP through the e-Allegations Online Trade Violations Reporting System or by calling 1-800-BE-ALERT. IPR violations can also be reported to the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center at https://www.iprcenter.gov/referral/ or by telephone at 1-866-IPR-2060.
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**USITC Institutes Section 337 Investigation of Certain Products Containing Tirzepatide and Products Purporting to Contain Tirzepatide - U.S. International Trade Commission
The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) voted to institute an investigation of certain products containing tirzepatide and products purporting to contain tirzepatide. The products at issue in the investigation are described in the Commission’s notice of investigation.
The investigation is based on a complaint filed by Eli Lilly and Company on October 19, 2023, and supplemented on November 10, 2023. The complaint alleges violations of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 in the importation into the United States and sale of certain products containing tirzepatide and products purporting to contain tirzepatide by reason of the infringement of a trademark, the false designation of source, and false and misleading advertising. The complainant requests that the USITC issue a general exclusion order or, in the alternative, a limited exclusion order, and cease and desist orders.
The USITC has identified the following respondents in this investigation:
• Arctic Peptides LLC of Ankeny, IA;
• Audrey Beauty Co. of Hong Kong;
• Biolabshop Limited of Lancaster, United Kingdom;
• Mew Mews Company Limited of Hong Kong;
• Steroide Kaufen of Bialystok, Poland;
• Strate Labs LLC of Spring, TX;
• Super Human Store of Barcelona, Spain;
• Supopeptide of Cedar Grove, NJ;
• Triggered Supplements LLC (d/b/a The Triggered Brand) of Clearwater, FL;
• Unewlife of Cedar Grove, NJ; and
• Xiamen Austronext Trading Co., Ltd. (d/b/a AustroPeptide) of Fujian, China;
By instituting this investigation (337-TA-1377), the USITC has not yet made any decision on the merits of the case. The USITC’s Chief Administrative Law Judge will assign the case to one of the USITC’s administrative law judges (ALJ), who will schedule and hold an evidentiary hearing. The ALJ will make an initial determination as to whether there is a violation of section 337; that initial determination is subject to review by the Commission.
The USITC will make a final determination in the investigation at the earliest practicable time. Within 45 days after institution of the investigation, the USITC will set a target date for completing the investigation. USITC remedial orders in section 337 cases are effective when issued and become final 60 days after issuance unless disapproved for policy reasons by the U.S. Trade Representative within that 60-day period