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February 5, 2013 ILA and USMX Reach Tentative Labor Agreement On February 2, 2013, the Journal of Commerce (JOC) published an article announcing that the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) and the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX) reached a tentative six-year labor contract, which would cover ports in the East and Gulf coasts. In a press release issued by the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, the Director George H. Cohen explains that "the tentative agreement is subject to the ratification procedures of both parties and, as well, to agreements being achieved in a number of local union negotiations. Those local negotiations are ongoing and will continue without interruption to any port operation." Ton’s is monitoring the situation closely, and will provide more information as it becomes available. The JOC article is available online at: The press release by the Federal Mediation and Conciliation service can be accessed at:
CBP Changes Customs Broker Exam Date to Wednesday, April 3, 2013 U.S. Customs and Border Protection (Customs, CBP) has posted a revised notice to its website announcing the April 2013 Customs Broker License Examination. Customs stated that the exam will now be held on Wednesday, April 3, 2013. Applications to take the exam will be accepted until Thursday, February 28, 2013. As a reminder, all applicants must register for the exam online, and a fee of $200.00 will be due at the time of the application. Credit or debit cards are the only accepted form of payment. Applications submitted directly to the service port or CBP Headquarters will not be accepted, and will be returned. Details on the examination specifics have not been posted yet, but it is expected that CBP will update their website in the upcoming weeks. The Announcement can be found online at: The online application can be accessed at:
On January 31, 2013, the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), and the Department of State (DoS) issued proposed rules to amend the list of articles controlled under Category IV of the U.S. Munitions List (USML) and transition those no longer warranting such control to the Commerce Control List (CCL). Category IV covers launch vehicles, rockets, torpedoes, bombs, and mines. The DoS proposed rule is intended to "describe more precisely the articles warranting control on the USML" by replacing broad catchalls with a list of specific articles that warrant control, and by adding clarifying language regarding the shipment of defense articles between U.S. possessions. The BIS proposed rule would also move military explosive excavating devices to the jurisdiction of the Department of Commerce, under Export Control Classification Number (ECCN) 0A604.c. As noted in the BIS notice, "This is one of a planned series of proposed rules describing how various types of articles that the President determines, as part of the Administration’s Export Control Reform Initiative, no longer warrant control on the USML, under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), would be controlled on the CCL in accordance with the requirements of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR)" Comments on both proposed rules must be submitted by March 18, 2013. The full text of the Department of State Federal Register notice can be accessed online at: The full text of the Department of Commerce Federal Register notice is available at:
Tons News, for current and past issues of Tons News by E-mail request from tonsnews@tonslogistics.com or call (310) 338-0337. ________________________________________ Tons News is compiled from a number of public sources that, to the best of Tons knowledge, are true and correct. It is our intent to present only accurate information. However, in the event any information contained herein is erroneous, Tons accepts no liability or responsibility.
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