NCBFAA Centurion's (L to R): Mr. Billy App, Ms. Mary Ann Comstock - 2015 Recipient, & Mr. Harold Brauner - 2011 Recipient During its April Conference in San Antonio, Texas, the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America, Inc., (NCBFAA) honored former NCBFAA Officer and longtime Association supporter, William 'Billy' App, with the NCBFAA Centurion Award. This award recognizes the recipient's outstanding vision, leadership and dedication demonstrated during their affiliation with the NCBFAA on behalf of the international transportation logistics community. Mr. App epitomizes the very spirit of this award, which NCBFAA Past President and Senior Counselor Federico Zuniga…

As a result of dry conditions affecting the projected levels of Gatun Lake, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has announced that, effective April 30, 2019, the Maximum Authorized Draft for vessels transiting the Neopanamax locks will be 13.41 meters (44.0 feet) Tropical Fresh Water (TFW). This is the fifth time this year the canal's administrators have had to impose ever stricter draft limits amid an unprecedented drought. Depending on the actual levels of Gatun Lake at the time, vessels arriving after April 30 with drafts over 13.41 meters (44.0 feet) TFW may be allowed to transit or may be required…

The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2018, included as Title I of the America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 (S. 3021) providing for investment in harbor, waterway, flood protection and other water infrastructure improvements throughout the country, was signed into law Tuesday October 23, 2018. The President’s signature ensures a wide variety of port, harbor and waterway projects critical to U.S. economic growth, national security, and U.S. global competitiveness will move forward. WRDA 2018 authorizes at least $9 billion for Army Corps of Engineers civil works projects and Environmental Protection Agency drinking-water and sewer-overflow control programs. The bipartisan leaders of the Transportation…

U.S. importers beware:  A Presidential Proclamation has been published removing some products from the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program. The list of products being removed is country-specific; the list and proclamation as published in the Federal Register can be accessed by clicking here. In citing that some imports from developing beneficiary countries previously exceeded applicable ‘competitive-need’ limitations as outlined under the program the U.S. took action. This change is effective and applicable to all imports entered into the U.S. on or after November 1st, 2018.

On Wednesday October 24, President Donald Trump signed legislation that will require the U.S. Postal Service to transmit advance electronic data to U.S. Customs and Border Protection for international shipments and will strengthen the Transportation Department’s alcohol and drug testing regime for transportation workers. The package, H.R. 6, the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, includes Synthetics Trafficking and Overdose Prevention (STOP) Act provisions that will require USPS to transmit advance electronic data to CBP on at least 70 percent of international mail arriving in the United States by Dec. 31 and on 100 percent of such mail on Dec.…

The International Maritime Organization’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) declined to postpone implementation of a cap on sulfur emissions for ships at its meeting this week. The IMO requirement that takes effect on Jan. 1, 2020 will reduce the sulfur content permitted in ships’ fuel oil globally to just 0.5 percent or require ships burning fuel with higher sulfur content to be equipped with scrubbers to remove sulfur from ship exhaust. Last week the MEPC also adopted a measure prohibiting vessels without scrubbers from carrying fuel containing more than 0.5 percent sulfur for use on board. This requirement will take…

President Donald Trump is set to sign a successor to the North American Free Trade Agreement that will make modest revisions to a deal he once called a “disaster,” easing uncertainty for companies reliant on tariff-free commerce.   U.S. and Canadian negotiators worked around the clock this weekend to secure an agreement just before a Sunday midnight deadline, allowing leaders from those nations and Mexico to sign the accord by late November. The 24-year-old Nafta will now be superseded by the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA, covering a region that trades more than $1 trillion annually.   “It is a great…

NAFTA Deal - President Donald Trump announced Monday that the United States and Mexico agreed to update some parts of NAFTA, but key trade lawmakers urged the administration to keep Canada in any final deal to revamp the overall accord.   With the U.S.-Mexico bilateral agreement, the Trump administration finishes one of many steps needed to revise the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement. The Mexico-U.S. talks centered on new rules for the car industry.   Any final deal to update the current NAFTA agreement will require congressional approval.   During Monday's White House announcement, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer…

On February 8, 2018, Rep. David Reichert (R-WA-8) and eight (8) other congressmen introduced H.R. 4979 into the House of Representatives to renew the Generalized System of Preferences ("GSP") for a period of three (3) years. H.R. 4979 was referred to the Ways and Means Committee and must now move through Congress and be signed by the President (assuming Congress approves H.R. 4979).  H.R. 4979 is a significant step toward renewal of the GSP program, which lapsed on December 31, 2017. The lapse has, at least for now, cost many importers significant money as imports that were previously duty-free have…

A letter sent on February 1, 2018, by twenty-five members of the U.S. House of Representatives to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) offered support of an exemption from the electronic logging device (ELD) mandate for small trucking businesses with “exemplary” safety records.  This action follows a November 21, 2017 expemption request filed by the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA). OOIDA's request seeks a five-year exemption for motor carriers classified as small businesses by the Small Business Administration.  Additionally, these small business motor carriers must have a proven safety history with no attributable at-fault crashes, as well as no “unsatisfactory” carrier safety…

The transfer of the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad assets to the Port of New Orleans is now final. This strategic alignment the Port and the Class III switching railroad significantly builds on the Port’s intermodal strengths and global competitiveness by ensuring shippers efficient access to all six Class I railroads.   “The acquisition of the New Orleans Public Belt will allow us to invest synergistically and strategically to optimize Port NOLA’s seamless multimodal solutions between river, rail and road with consideration for community impacts,” said Brandy D. Christian, Port NOLA President and CEO. “The Port’s Gateway Master Plan will…

Trucking Costs Rise as Market Conditions Tighten Market conditions are setting the perfect stage for an increase in trucking rates.  Trucking capacity constraints, increasing freight demand, tougher customer requirements such as narrow delivery windows, and a growing U.S. economy set the perfect stage for an increase in rates. Numerous recent market evaluations are recognizing double digit (%) rate increases with 2018 expecting to experience continued pressure in rising truckload rates.  The repercussions are being felt by companies, large and small, as supply chains cope with rising transportation costs and narrowing profit margins.    Companies such as Hershey’s, Clorox, and Prestige Brands…

FDA has issued five guidance documents to help importers and food producers meet key food safety provisions mandated by the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).   The guidance documents include:   ·         A draft guidance on Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) rule ·         A Small Entity Compliance Guide on the FSVP rule ·         A draft guidance on the term "Same Level of Public Health Protection" used in both the FSVP and Produce Safety regulations ·         Chapter 15 of the draft Preventive Controls for Human Food guidance regarding Supply-Chain requirements ·         Enforcement Discretion guidance regarding the application of FSVP to…

Wintry Weather Conditions Adversely Impact J.W. Allen & Company Office Operations January 17, 2018 The New Orleans Metro area is presently under a Hard Freeze Warning which is impacting travel conditions throughout the area. An overnight mixture of sleet, ice, and snow on the roadways has resulted in widespread bridge and road closures with authorities recommending people avoid being on the roadways until conditions improve. As of the time of this communication, Port of New Orleans terminals are delaying opening until conditions improve. \Weather Forecast for the New Orleans Metro area is as follows: A Hard Freeze Warning Remains In Effect…

Please be advised of the following J.W. Allen & Company office closures in recognition of the Christmas Holiday Season. Friday Dec. 22nd & Monday Dec. 25th – Office Closed Christmas Day Holiday Friday Dec. 29th – Will advise in the event of an early closure Monday January 1st – Office Closed New Year's Day Holiday Should you require assistance during this time, please Click Here to access Emergency Contact information as available on our website. Thank You So Much for Your Continued Support & Best Wishes for a Blessed Holiday Season!

August Birthdays August 8 - J.W. Allen & Company (Celebrating 85 Years!) A special thanks to our valued clients, vendors, agents, family and friends whose continued support makes our recognition of this milestone possible.  The J.W. Allen Family August Anniversaries August 17 - Peggy Barcellona (Celebrating 18 Years!)

President Trump said a possible crackdown on imported steel for national security reasons is still in the works but will take more time.  Trump told the Wall Street Journal in an interview on Tuesday that “we don’t want to do it at this moment” and said the Commerce Department's plans to produce a report by the end of June were hampered by the complexity of the issue and widespread opposition from business groups, trading partners and infighting within the White House.    “You can’t just walk in and say I’m doing to do this," Trump said. "You have to do…

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) appears to be closing in on a three-year contract extension with its terminal operator employers which would ensure dockworker stability up and down the U.S. West Coast     The ILWU said in a statement Friday afternoon it has completed voting on a proposed extension to its existing collective bargaining agreement with the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA), and early indications are that the extension will be approved by a 67 percent majority. The union will announce the official results of the vote on Aug. 4.    The current ILWU-PMA labor deal which was marked…

Wednesday morning May 31st between the hours of 10:00 am and 1:00 pm cdt, J.W. Allen & Company will be changing internet service providers and upgrading ISP related services. This planned outage will affect our computer network and phone system connectivity for a short period of time. A great amount of planning and testing has guided this transition and while we are confident this process will proceed in a timely fashion, we are offering the time frame as noted for planning purposes. Phone and computer system specialists will be on-site throughout this transition to ensure our quickest return to normal…

FSMA Final Rule on Foreign Supplier Verification Programs (FSVP) for Importers of Food for Humans and Animals Introduction The FDA FSMA rule on Foreign Supplier Verification Programs (FSVP) for Importers of Food for Humans and Animals is now final, and compliance dates for some businesses begin in 18 months. The final rule requires that importers perform certain risk-based activities to verify that food imported into the United States has been produced in a manner that meets applicable U.S. safety standards. This rule is the product of a significant level of outreach by the FDA to industry, consumer groups, the agency’s…

May Birthday's May 19 - Dawn Catania May Anniversaries May 13 - Monica "Taty" Hamburger (Celebrating 9 Years of Good Times!) May 24 - Karen Johns (Celebrating 41 Years of Good Times!) May 25 - Erin Webre (Celebrating 7 Years of Good Times!) May Holidays / Special Days May 14 - Mother's Day "If evolution really works, how come mothers only have two hands?" Milton Berle A special thanks to mothers everywhere whose love, support and sacrifices enrich our lives and shape our world.  The J.W. Allen Family May 29 - Memorial Day (Office Closed)** **If you require immediate assistance during…

Thursday morning April 20th between the hours of 9:00 am and 12:00 noon cdt, J.W. Allen & Company will be changing internet service providers and upgrading ISP related services.  This planned outage will affect our computer network and phone system connectivity for a short period of time. A great amount of planning and testing has guided this transition and while we are confident this process will proceed in a timely fashion, we are offering the time frame as noted for planning purposes.  Phone and computer system specialists will be on-site throughout this transition to ensure our quickest return to normal…

Their message is a simple one: “Trucker Lives Matter!” Encouraging residents of Washington, D.C. to consider taking public rail transportation on September 5th, TLM has challenged truckers to respond to a call to join their national memorial procession which will pass in front of the Capitol building." -James Lamb, TLM Spokesman Traditionally, the day after Labor Day represents the first day back to work after the holiday weekend, and an unofficial end to Summer vacations. But this year, that may be different for many members of the trucking industry. Just as the rest of America will be returning to work…

The Trade Community is Supportive A variety of freight forwarders, customs brokers and shippers' associations sent letters to the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) supporting a petition filed in December by the Coalition for Fair Port Practices asking the agency to address fees imposed on shippers when they can't pick-up and return cargo, containers and chassis for reasons beyond their control.  The goal of the coalitions request is to bring about more reasonable demurrage and detention practices for cargo moving through our nation’s seaports.”    American Cotton Shippers Association President William May said, “Our members have experienced repeated incidents of severe…

During a February address to members of the Northern California trade community, John McLaurin, President of the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association (PMSA) – representatives of owners and operators of marine terminals and U.S. and foreign vessels, warned attendees the Trump administration’s “…restrictive trade policies will negatively impact port volumes and result in job losses throughout the supply chain from anyone that touches and moves cargo – to anyone that owns, buys or sells it. The Trump administration trade policy is unknown at this time, but millions of jobs and the economic health of public port authorities, local, regional and state…