(DC
Velocity)
Counterfeiting has become a very real problem for food and consumer products
supply chains – one that’s costing these industries billions of dollars a year
worldwide. A recent story in our sister publication,CSCMP’s Supply Chain
Quarterly, outlined several strategies for cracking down on counterfeiting. Now
comes word of a surprising new tool for preventing counterfeit packaging from
entering the supply chain: DNA.
Deoxyribonucleic acid, it turns out, could eventually become as common in the
manufacturing plant or the warehouse as it is in crime investigations. DISC
Graphics, a producer of packaging and print for the entertainment
media, beauty, health-care, private label, and consumer products industries,
will offer DNA “taggants” for use in its folding cartons and pressure-sensitive
labels. According to Applied DNA Sciences Inc.,
the developer of the patented taggant, its SigNature DNA is a plant-derived mark that
cannot be copied and can provide a “forensic chain of evidence” to authenticate
products, including packaging and labels.
Maybe some day we’ll see a new addition to the networks’ crime-show lineup: “CSI Supply Chain.”
Saturday, August 6, 2011
U.S. Senate Leaders in Agreement on Trade Deal Votes
(Washington Post – Felicia Sonmez and Zachary A. Goldfarb)
Three long-delayed trade deals with South Korea, Panama and Colombia are moving closer to a vote after the Senate’s leaders announced that they had reached an agreement to bring the pacts up for consideration when Congress returns from recess in September.
Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) also agreed to hold a vote on a program favored by Democrats, called Trade Adjustment Assistance, which provides aid and retraining to workers who have lost their jobs because work was sent overseas.
The White House and its Democratic allies had demanded that Congress renew the trade assistance program in order to move forward on the trade deals. Congressional approval is by no means guaranteed, but passage of the deals would fulfill a plank of President Obama’s economic policy. Obama, who expressed skepticism as a candidate about free trade, has hailed the agreements as crucial to increasing U.S. sales overseas. Obama has called for a doubling of U.S. exports by 2015. “These agreements will support tens of thousands of jobs here at home,” U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk said after news of the Senate agreement. Read more here.
Three long-delayed trade deals with South Korea, Panama and Colombia are moving closer to a vote after the Senate’s leaders announced that they had reached an agreement to bring the pacts up for consideration when Congress returns from recess in September.
Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) also agreed to hold a vote on a program favored by Democrats, called Trade Adjustment Assistance, which provides aid and retraining to workers who have lost their jobs because work was sent overseas.
The White House and its Democratic allies had demanded that Congress renew the trade assistance program in order to move forward on the trade deals. Congressional approval is by no means guaranteed, but passage of the deals would fulfill a plank of President Obama’s economic policy. Obama, who expressed skepticism as a candidate about free trade, has hailed the agreements as crucial to increasing U.S. sales overseas. Obama has called for a doubling of U.S. exports by 2015. “These agreements will support tens of thousands of jobs here at home,” U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk said after news of the Senate agreement. Read more here.
Friday, August 5, 2011
News from TAHOCO: Weekly Updates
An updated list of recently published US government
memorandums, notices, regulations and decisions for the week ending August 5, 2011 is now available on our
website here.
Transpacific Peak-Season Surcharge Will Succeed, Claims TSA
(ifw – Damian Brett)
Transpacific carriers believe they will finally be able to implement a peak-season surcharge (PSS) in the coming weeks as retailers start to stock up for Christmas.
The Transpacific Stabilization Agreement (TSA), a rate-recommending organization, has recommended that its shipping line members impose a PSS of $400/feu from 15 August. The TSA initially announced that a PSS should apply from 15 June, but it was delayed several times because market conditions were not strong enough for carriers to push the price increases through. But the TSA now believes retailers are beginning to restock for the back-to-school and festive holiday seasons and businesses are resuming global sourcing of materials and components. Read more here.
Transpacific carriers believe they will finally be able to implement a peak-season surcharge (PSS) in the coming weeks as retailers start to stock up for Christmas.
The Transpacific Stabilization Agreement (TSA), a rate-recommending organization, has recommended that its shipping line members impose a PSS of $400/feu from 15 August. The TSA initially announced that a PSS should apply from 15 June, but it was delayed several times because market conditions were not strong enough for carriers to push the price increases through. But the TSA now believes retailers are beginning to restock for the back-to-school and festive holiday seasons and businesses are resuming global sourcing of materials and components. Read more here.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Rare-earth Output to be Halted
(China Daily – Zhou Yan and Zhang Qi)
Minmetals calls on industry to adhere to government guidelines
The rare-earth processor China Minmetals Nonferrous Metals Co said it is planning to halt output to adhere to the country’s mandatory production limit.
That comes amid a recent stabilization of rare-earth prices, which have surged fourfold since the start of this year.
The company, which has an annual rare-earth processing capacity of 14,000 tons, “hasn’t decided when will be the specific date to halt production”, anonymous sources from the company’s marketing department was quoted by National Business Daily as saying on Tuesday.
The non-ferrous arm of State-owned China Minmetals Corp, the nation’s biggest metals trading firm, issued an appeal on Tuesday to other domestic rare-earth processing plants to also avoid illegal over-production. The appeal came after the nation’s annual output limit for smelting and processing rare-earths products had been reached. Read more here.
Minmetals calls on industry to adhere to government guidelines
The rare-earth processor China Minmetals Nonferrous Metals Co said it is planning to halt output to adhere to the country’s mandatory production limit.
That comes amid a recent stabilization of rare-earth prices, which have surged fourfold since the start of this year.
The company, which has an annual rare-earth processing capacity of 14,000 tons, “hasn’t decided when will be the specific date to halt production”, anonymous sources from the company’s marketing department was quoted by National Business Daily as saying on Tuesday.
The non-ferrous arm of State-owned China Minmetals Corp, the nation’s biggest metals trading firm, issued an appeal on Tuesday to other domestic rare-earth processing plants to also avoid illegal over-production. The appeal came after the nation’s annual output limit for smelting and processing rare-earths products had been reached. Read more here.
Accreditation Requirements for Third-Party Labs Testing to Toy Safety Standards
(World Trade Interactive)
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a notice that provides the criteria and process for its acceptance of accreditation of third-party conformity assessment bodies for testing pursuant to the safety standards for toys (ASTM F 963-08 and section 4.27 (toy chests) from ASTM F 963-07ε1). Accordingly, toys manufactured after Dec. 31, 2011, cannot be imported for consumption or warehousing or distributed in commerce unless the manufacturers (including importers) or private labelers have first (a) had samples of such product, or samples that are identical in all material respects to such product, tested by a third-party conformity assessment body accredited to do so and (b) issued a certificate of compliance with the applicable regulations based on that testing. Read more here.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a notice that provides the criteria and process for its acceptance of accreditation of third-party conformity assessment bodies for testing pursuant to the safety standards for toys (ASTM F 963-08 and section 4.27 (toy chests) from ASTM F 963-07ε1). Accordingly, toys manufactured after Dec. 31, 2011, cannot be imported for consumption or warehousing or distributed in commerce unless the manufacturers (including importers) or private labelers have first (a) had samples of such product, or samples that are identical in all material respects to such product, tested by a third-party conformity assessment body accredited to do so and (b) issued a certificate of compliance with the applicable regulations based on that testing. Read more here.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
US: New Bill to Tackle Textile Fraud
(Leonie Barrie — Just Style)
A group of US lawmakers has reintroduced
textile-specific bill that aims to close customs enforcement loopholes and
crack down on illegal trafficking of yarn and duty evasion.
The Textile Enforcement and Security Act (TESA) is
backed by 17 members of Congress and has garnered support from the US
textile industry.
“Our industry and its workers have seen job losses
due to customs fraud grow dramatically over the last decade as unscrupulous
importers and producers have progressively discovered the loopholes in our
enforcement rules and regulations,” said Cass Johnson, president of the
National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO). Read more here.
Rates Pick Up as Carriers Bring in Price Rises
(International Freighting Weekly –
Damian Brett)
Main container trades see increases for the first time this year
Rates on services from Asia to Europe picked up last week for the first time this year, just prior to carriers bringing in price increases on Monday. According to the Shanghai Containerised Freight Index (SCFI), all-in spot rates on services from Asia to Europe reached US$806 per teu last week from $800 per teu the week before.
This is around $600 per teu below the average rate on the trade lane at the start of the year, around $200 per teu less than those recorded at the end of Q1 and around $100 less than at the end of Q2. Read more here.
Main container trades see increases for the first time this year
Rates on services from Asia to Europe picked up last week for the first time this year, just prior to carriers bringing in price increases on Monday. According to the Shanghai Containerised Freight Index (SCFI), all-in spot rates on services from Asia to Europe reached US$806 per teu last week from $800 per teu the week before.
This is around $600 per teu below the average rate on the trade lane at the start of the year, around $200 per teu less than those recorded at the end of Q1 and around $100 less than at the end of Q2. Read more here.
India Shippers Blast Congestion Surcharges
(Journal of Commerce Online – Mike
King)
Association pins port woes on container lines, government
The Western India Shippers Association says shipping lines and the Indian government share responsibility for the congestion and delays blighting operations at India’s largest container gateway.
India is enjoying an economic boom but container port capacity at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust has not kept pace. Total volume handled at its three over-worked terminals has totaled just over 4 million 20-foot equivalents in each of the last two years as operators of the port’s three terminals have been unable to increase capacity quickly enough to meet soaring demand. Subsequent delays have prompted carriers to impose congestion surcharges and divert services. Read more here.
Association pins port woes on container lines, government
The Western India Shippers Association says shipping lines and the Indian government share responsibility for the congestion and delays blighting operations at India’s largest container gateway.
India is enjoying an economic boom but container port capacity at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust has not kept pace. Total volume handled at its three over-worked terminals has totaled just over 4 million 20-foot equivalents in each of the last two years as operators of the port’s three terminals have been unable to increase capacity quickly enough to meet soaring demand. Subsequent delays have prompted carriers to impose congestion surcharges and divert services. Read more here.
Senate Approves CPSC Overhaul Before Adjourning
(The Hill – Pete Kasperowicz)
The Senate on Monday evening approved H.R. 2715, a bill that would give the Consumer Product Safety Commission new authority to exempt some children’s products from strict lead content guidelines that many companies have argued are unwieldy.
The Senate approved H.R. 2715 by voice vote just before adjourning. Earlier in the day, the House approved the same bill in a 421-2 vote. Read more here.
The Senate on Monday evening approved H.R. 2715, a bill that would give the Consumer Product Safety Commission new authority to exempt some children’s products from strict lead content guidelines that many companies have argued are unwieldy.
The Senate approved H.R. 2715 by voice vote just before adjourning. Earlier in the day, the House approved the same bill in a 421-2 vote. Read more here.
Obama Targets Trade, Infrastructure to Boost Economy
(Journal of Commerce Online – Joyhn
D. Boyd)
Calls for quick action to end aviation logjam, slew of acts after recess
President Obama on Tuesday urged Congress to quickly settle differences on aviation legislation to unblock air construction projects, and to pass legislation on trade pacts and an infrastructure bank after lawmakers return from summer recess.
Calls for quick action to end aviation logjam, slew of acts after recess
President Obama on Tuesday urged Congress to quickly settle differences on aviation legislation to unblock air construction projects, and to pass legislation on trade pacts and an infrastructure bank after lawmakers return from summer recess.
“We’ve got to do everything in our
power to grow this economy and put America back to work,” Obama said after
learning the Senate had followed the House in approving legislation to raise
the federal debt ceiling and cut spending. Read more here.
BTS Reports Surface Trade with NAFTA Partners Is Up 15.7% in May
(Logistics Management)
The United States Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported today that trade using surface transportation between the United States and its North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners Canada and Mexico was up 15.7% in May 2011 compared to May 2010, hitting $77.3 billion.
This output represents a 4.8% gain from the $73.8 billion in April.
The BTS said that the value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico in May was up 17.2% compared to May 2006 and up 55.9% compared to May 2001, with imports up 46.4% and exports up 68.5%. Read more here.
The United States Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported today that trade using surface transportation between the United States and its North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners Canada and Mexico was up 15.7% in May 2011 compared to May 2010, hitting $77.3 billion.
This output represents a 4.8% gain from the $73.8 billion in April.
The BTS said that the value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico in May was up 17.2% compared to May 2006 and up 55.9% compared to May 2001, with imports up 46.4% and exports up 68.5%. Read more here.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
CBP Preparing to Pilot Test Reusable High-Security Container Lock
(World Trade Interactive)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is soliciting participants in a pilot program for the Secure Transit Corridors program, which will evaluate an experimental reusable high-security lock in a real world environment. The experimental locks for this pilot program, which is tentatively scheduled to begin Oct. 1 and last 12 months, will be used in place of the high-security seals that are normally affixed to containers bound for the U.S.
According to CBP, only Tier III members of the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism that make entry through the ports of Detroit or Nogales will be eligible to participate in the pilot. For members who use Detroit, only supply chains utilizing highway carriers will be considered. For members who use Nogales, only supply chains utilizing highway carriers and/or rail carriers will be considered.
CBP states that the pilot will require the installation of system readers at the facility grounds where the containers are loaded and high-security seals are affixed to the containers. System readers will also need to be installed at the C-TPAT member’s U.S. distribution centers or warehouse facilities. The system readers create a geo-free-zone allowing the experimental locks to be opened and closed without sending an alarm message to the importer.
Those interested in being considered for selection to participate in the pilot should email the following information to CBP industry.partnership@dhs.gov by Aug. 15: company name, name of loading company/facility, address where container is loaded, mode of transportation, port of entry, number of shipments entering through Detroit and/or Nogales ports for a period of one year, commodity and whether shipments require hazmat documentation.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is soliciting participants in a pilot program for the Secure Transit Corridors program, which will evaluate an experimental reusable high-security lock in a real world environment. The experimental locks for this pilot program, which is tentatively scheduled to begin Oct. 1 and last 12 months, will be used in place of the high-security seals that are normally affixed to containers bound for the U.S.
According to CBP, only Tier III members of the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism that make entry through the ports of Detroit or Nogales will be eligible to participate in the pilot. For members who use Detroit, only supply chains utilizing highway carriers will be considered. For members who use Nogales, only supply chains utilizing highway carriers and/or rail carriers will be considered.
CBP states that the pilot will require the installation of system readers at the facility grounds where the containers are loaded and high-security seals are affixed to the containers. System readers will also need to be installed at the C-TPAT member’s U.S. distribution centers or warehouse facilities. The system readers create a geo-free-zone allowing the experimental locks to be opened and closed without sending an alarm message to the importer.
Those interested in being considered for selection to participate in the pilot should email the following information to CBP industry.partnership@dhs.gov by Aug. 15: company name, name of loading company/facility, address where container is loaded, mode of transportation, port of entry, number of shipments entering through Detroit and/or Nogales ports for a period of one year, commodity and whether shipments require hazmat documentation.
Container Ship Capacity Jumps 10%
(Journal of Commerce Online – Bruce
Barnard)
Alphaliner says vessel utilization down in last 12 months amid slowing demand
Active container ship capacity around the world is up 10% over the past year, running ahead of cargo demand and putting pressure on freight rates and vessel utilization levels in a lackluster peak season, according to industry analysts Alphaliner.
Carriers have boosted capacity on all routes, with the secondary line haul markets in South America and Africa seeing the largest percentage increases, the container market analyst said. The world’s active fleet reached 14.95 million 20-foot equivalent units on August 1, an increase of 1.33 million TEUs over the past year. Read more here.
Alphaliner says vessel utilization down in last 12 months amid slowing demand
Active container ship capacity around the world is up 10% over the past year, running ahead of cargo demand and putting pressure on freight rates and vessel utilization levels in a lackluster peak season, according to industry analysts Alphaliner.
Carriers have boosted capacity on all routes, with the secondary line haul markets in South America and Africa seeing the largest percentage increases, the container market analyst said. The world’s active fleet reached 14.95 million 20-foot equivalent units on August 1, an increase of 1.33 million TEUs over the past year. Read more here.
New Assessment on Imports of Softwood Lumber to Take Effect Next Year
(World Trade Interactive)
Importers and domestic manufacturers of softwood lumber will be subject to a new assessment beginning Jan. 1, 2012, under a Department of Agriculture final rule. The assessments will be used to finance operations under the new Softwood Lumber Research, Promotion, Consumer Education and Industry Information Order, which aims to strengthen the position of softwood lumber in the marketplace, maintain and expand markets for softwood lumber and develop new uses for softwood lumber within the U.S.
The assessment will initially be set at $0.35 per thousand board feet of softwood lumber shipped within or imported into the U.S. but could be increased to a maximum of $0.50 per thousand board feet. No assessments will be imposed on organic lumber, exports, entities that domestically manufacture and ship or import less than 15 million board feet per fiscal year, and the first 15 million board feet for imports and domestic shipments in excess of that amount.
Importers and domestic manufacturers of softwood lumber will be subject to a new assessment beginning Jan. 1, 2012, under a Department of Agriculture final rule. The assessments will be used to finance operations under the new Softwood Lumber Research, Promotion, Consumer Education and Industry Information Order, which aims to strengthen the position of softwood lumber in the marketplace, maintain and expand markets for softwood lumber and develop new uses for softwood lumber within the U.S.
The assessment will initially be set at $0.35 per thousand board feet of softwood lumber shipped within or imported into the U.S. but could be increased to a maximum of $0.50 per thousand board feet. No assessments will be imposed on organic lumber, exports, entities that domestically manufacture and ship or import less than 15 million board feet per fiscal year, and the first 15 million board feet for imports and domestic shipments in excess of that amount.
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