SEKO Logistics has won conditional reinstatements from the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in two international trade programs. The violations that led to the suspensions have not been identified. SEKO is seeking unconditional reinstatements and claims that CBP has not provided any evidence or examples of compliance issues. CBP recently suspended multiple customs brokers from its expedited customs clearance program to prevent abuse of the tariff exemption for direct-to-consumer imports. SEKO has filed a lawsuit to stop the suspensions and win full reinstatements.
Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Commissioner Troy Miller addressed the 2024 Trade Summit, expressing condolences for the families affected by a shipping vessel collision at the Francis Scott Key Bridge. Miller emphasized CBP's commitment to partnership with the trade community and highlighted several initiatives aimed at enhancing trade enforcement and supply chain security.
One of the initiatives mentioned by Miller is the Green Trade Incentives Analysis, launched by CBP to minimize environmental harms and maximize the benefits of trade. In fiscal year 2023, CBP seized 19,522 shipments containing nearly 23 million items in violation of intellectual property rights, worth nearly $2.5 billion. Additionally, CBP's enforcement actions against forced labor resulted in the repayment of over $62 million in withheld wages and recruitment fees.
Miller underscored the importance of partnerships and collaboration in protecting security, health, and economic vitality. The Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT) program was highlighted as playing a crucial role in securing supply chains. In fiscal year 2023, CBP processed over $5 trillion in imports and exports. The agency is also investing in technology innovation, including the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) 2.0, which is expected to save an estimated $1 billion in annual operating costs through non-intrusive inspection technology.
CBP officers utilized large-scale non-intrusive inspection (NII) to conduct over 9.4 million exams and seize more than 50,000 kilograms of drugs and $2.5 million in undeclared U.S. currency in fiscal year 2023. Miller highlighted the challenges posed by the de minimis environment, with over one billion packages claiming de minimis preferences in the United States. He emphasized the risks of illicit goods in de minimis shipments, including counterfeit pharmaceuticals, batteries, electronics, and narcotics. CBP is intensifying enforcement efforts against fentanyl and other synthetic drugs and is working on improving data quality and information sharing in de minimis shipments.
Addressing concerns raised by stakeholders, Miller stated that CBP is addressing the impact of de minimis on the textile and apparel industries. The agency is increasing its focus on supply chain traceability and is partnering with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to expand the Global Business Identifier (GBI) test. Miller encouraged trade partners to participate in the GBI test and urged the trade community to adapt to changes and prioritize compliance and security. [7cc9bde8] [ff174a12]