On June 20, FASA/Gemini joined over 100 business organizations in sending a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DEH) Secretary Jeh Johnson urging DHS to abandon efforts to find a way to meet Congress’ 100% scanning mandate and instead explain to Congress the strong risk-based targeting system DHS has put in place…
GSP Fashion Accessories Decision Expected Soon
FASA/Gemini has been closely tracking the process to add 28 categories of fashion accessories to the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program. FASA/Gemini expects a decision to come before the end of the month and are hopeful that such a designa…
FASA Urges Congress to Maintain Current Trucker Hours of Service (HOS) Provision
In anticipation of Senate floor action this week on S. 2844, the FY 2017 T-HUD (Transportation (DOT), Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and Related Agencies) appropriations bill, FASA joined a coalition of business groups in sending a May 10 letter …
Senate Approves FASA-Supported MTB Reform Legislation, Obama Expected to Sign into Law Shortly
On May 10, the Senate unanimously approved FASA-supported legislation to create a process for considering bills that would temporarily reduce or eliminate duties (up to $500,000) on products that are no longer made in the U.S. The legislation (H.R. 492…
China/Coast Guard Issue Guidance on New SOLAS Container Weight Rule
On April 28, the U.S. Coast Guard issued its long-awaited guidance on the new SOLAS Verified Gross Mass (VGM) container weight rule, which will go into effect on July 1, 2016. In its guidance, the Coast Guard essentially said it had no role in establis…
House Approves FASA/Gemini-Supported MTB Reform Legislation, Senate Vote Expected Shortly
On April 27, the U.S. House of Representatives approved FASA/Gemini-supported legislation to create a process for considering bills that would temporarily reduce or eliminate duties (up to $500,000) on products that are no longer made in the U.S. The l…
Report: Counterfeiting Now Half Trillion Dollar Global Industry
Last month, the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the European Union’s Intellectual Property Office released an updated report showing that imports of counterfeit and pirated goods globally hit $461 billion in 2013. This represents more than 2.5 percent of total global imports, an increase from a 2008…
CPSC Announces Voluntary Recall of Women’s Scarves Due to Violation of Flammability Standard
On April 21, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced the voluntary recall of SouvNear women’s silk scarves. The recalled product was manufactured in India, imported by SouvNear Inc., and was sold at Averroes International stores and online at amazon.com and souvnear.com from October 2014 through March 2016. The…
New California Prop 65 Notices
Professional California Proposition 65 litigants Consumer Advocacy Group, Anthony Ferreiro, and Ema Bell issued new “60-day” notices in the past few weeks alleging that brands and retailers sold Footwear (Notice 1, Notice 2, Notice 3, Notice 4, Notice 5), Gloves (Notice 1, Notice 2, Notice 3), Clothing (Notice 1), Handbags…
Customs Announces More Than $1 Billion in Counterfeit Seizures
Last week, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced it had seized more than $1.3 billion in counterfeit articles during the fiscal year (FY) that ended September 30, 2015. Last year’s figures represented seizures of more than 28,800 shipments, a 37 percent increase over FY 2014. Clothing, footwear, watches/jewelry, and fashion accessories…