We will be closed Monday September 5th in observance of Labor Day.
Administration Launches Focused Review of Travel Goods Eligibility for All Developing Countries
Following strong lobbying from Gemini Shippers Group and a number of other stakeholders in the business community, Congress, and the diplomatic community, the Administration has launched a focused review to determine if 28 categories of travel goods can be designated for duty free access under the Generalized System of…
Administration Solicits Comments for Notorious Markets
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) is requesting assistance from the public in identifying Internet-based and physical counterfeit markets located outside the United States that should be included in the 2016 Notorious Markets List. This list, which the U.S. government has published since February 2011, identifies “select online…
Join Us for September 21-22 TPP Washington, DC Fly-In
FASA/Gemini will join the TPP Apparel Coalition to descend on Washington, DC September 21-22 to advocate for Congressional approval of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade agreement. Please complete the fly-in registration form and return to FASA’s Nate Herman as soon as possible, but no later than August 26, 2016. Your participation is urgently needed to…
Gemini Shippers Group Supports Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA)
Gemini Shippers Group joined nearly thirty other associations in a series of joint letters to U.S. trading partners urging them to quickly ratify and implement the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA). Letters were sent to free trade agreement (FTA) partners (see sample) and non-FTA (see sample here). The TFA – a…
International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) Update
According to a Journal of Commerce article today, the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) has put a hold on early contract extension discussions with the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX). The parties had started initial discussions late last year on the potential for a contract extension. According to a statement from…
Administration Takes Next Step to Advance TPP
On Friday, August 12, the Obama Administration submitted a draft statement of administrative action (SAA) on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) to the Congress. The move is the latest step that needs to be taken to comply with the terms and timeline o…
Gemini Shippers Group Urges Full Designation of Travel Goods for GSP Program
Gemini Shippers Group sent a letter on August 4 to President Barack Obama urging the designation of 28 categories of travel goods to be eligible for duty free access to the United States from all Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) eligible countries. The letter follows on to a proclamation…
Gemini Backs Early Talks to Extend the West Coast Port Contract
On August 8th, Gemini Shippers Group joined more than 100 other trade associations and organizations in urging the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Alliance to begin discussions soon to extend the current management/labor contract or to negotiate a new long-term contract. The letter emphasizes continuous…
New California Proposition 65 Notices Issued
Professional California Proposition 65 (Prop 65) litigants – the Consumer Advocacy Group, MultiCraft Imports, Anthony Ferreiro, Susan Davia, Sara Hammond, and John Moore – issued new “60-day” notices in the past few weeks alleging that brands and retailers sold Travel Accessories (Notice 1), ID Holders (Notices 1 & 2), Key Chains (Notices…