Lars-Erik Hjelm Quoted by Bloomberg BNA on 2018 Outlook for Customs and Border Protection
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Bloomberg BNA, in its article “Customs Keeps Moving Trade Processing System Forward,” has quoted Akin Gump international trade partner Lars-Erik Hjelm discussing some of the issues confronting U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in the coming year.
Hjelm said CBP will face the traditional tension over balancing trade facilitation with security, with the agency likely to continue the trend of increasing audits of manufacturers that are required to post cash deposits in antidumping and subsidy cases. Trade remedy enforcement will probably also increase, he said, adding that the same is true for intellectual property enforcement.
Imports produced with forced labor will be another area “to keep an eye on” in 2018, according to Hjelm. He said Customs would likely amend its regulations on the process, with the Trump administration expected to focus its efforts on China and North Korea. He also said that importers who do not adequately audit their supply chains risk detention of goods as well as harm to reputation.
Finally, Hjelm said the importer community is waiting for new Customs rules on drawback, which refers to the refund of certain duties, internal revenue taxes and certain fees collected upon the importation of goods. The new rules are due February 24 under provisions of the 2015 customs bill.
