Industry Insights

CBP Releases eBond Implementation Guide In June, U.S. Customs Border Protection (CBP) released a Customs and Trade Automated Interface Requirements (CATAIR) document providing updated conventional trade interface information for ACE eBond filing between CBP and sureties. The CATAIR update is intended for the future deployment of eBond functionality in ACE and provides input and output electronic data interchange (EDI) record formation for the electronic submission of bonds to CBP. The document presents both the bond input transaction proprietary records used by sureties and surety agents to file and maintain an electronic bond as well as the output transaction proprietary records […]

Update: Terrorism Insurance Reauthorization and Transportation Industry In April, we spoke about the looming expiration of the government-backed Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA), set for December 31st, 2014. Just last week, there was some progress made on this front with the Senate voting to extend TRIA. Senators voted 93-4 to extend the program through 2021, allowing the federal government to pay for a portion of damage arising from attacks costing more than $100 million. The Senate bill also increases the co-payment for private insurers from 15 percent to 20 percent. This news was welcomed by the insurance industry with various […]

Logistics Providers, Transportation Firms: Mitigating EPL Exposures All employers of any size across every industry sector, including the logistics and transportation industries, are vulnerable to employee-related lawsuits arising from alleged employment practices violations. This is particularly so in an environment in which the EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) has stepped up its actions to investigate allegations of wrongful termination, discrimination and other violations. This has made robust employment Best Practices, regulatory compliance, and Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI) so critical today. Employment Practices in the Forefront In December 2012, the EEOC established and approved its Strategic Enforcement Plan (SEP) for […]

Roanoke Insurance Group regularly checks on the status of the requested re-exemption for ATA Carnets from the Electronic Export Information (EEI) filing requirement under the new Foreign Trade Regulations. As of today we still have no response on the status and thus no further update to share. We can tell you that US Census has released their official FAQ on how ATA Carnet shipments are to be handled during this period of Informed Compliance. Please click here to view the Foreign Trade Regulations’ FAQ; page 19 contains the following language specific to ATA Carnet: Do carnet shipments require filing during the period of informed compliance?  The period of informed […]

Cargo Insurance and ISFs: Implications West Coast Shippers Should Consider Negotiations between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) continue as the current contract expired on June 30th. Presently, according to a statement by the PMA, while there will be no contract extension, “cargo will keep moving, and normal operations will continue at the ports until an agreement can be reached between the two organizations. Both sides understand the strategic importance of the ports to the local, regional and U.S. economies, and are mindful of the need to finalize a new coast-wide contract as soon […]

It’s been seven weeks since CBP’s internal memo to seaports resuming limited liquidated damage (LD) enforcement on ISFs. NCBFAA and the International Trade Surety Association (ITSA) requested a copy of the directive but CBP has declined to provide it. CBP maintains that an FAQ Addendum posted to their website sets forth the pertinent elements of the directive. Regarding the resumed enforcement phase: CBP has adopted a “three strikes” policy. Ports must undertake “informed compliance” outreaches to importers via phone, email or letter for the first three (nationwide) violations. LD cases may be forthcoming beginning with the fourth violation. The three strikes threshold […]