In an August 14, 2019 Notice of Proposed Rule Making, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) announced its intent to increase requirements on licensed customs brokers to verify the identity of the importers with whom they transact. CBP reports that each year, approximately 350,000 importers actively engage with CBP through almost 2,100 licensed customs
CIT Finds Shoe Importer Was “Grossly Negligent” In Classifying Products
In recent decision, the Court of International Trade entered a $1.6 million award against shoe importer, Sterling Footwear, Inc. (“Sterling”), for what it found to be grossly negligent product misclassification. Granting the U.S. Government’s motion for summary judgment in part, the Court left open the possibility of additional penalties of up to $20.8 million
Indictments Against Shipping Executives Demonstrate DOJ’s Commitment to Individual Accountability
Almost one year ago, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that Norwegian Shipping company Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics AS (WWL) had agreed to pay a $98.9 million fine for its role in a conspiracy to control prices for roll-on, roll-off cargo (such as cars, trucks, and agricultural equipment) shipped to and from the United States. At
$99 Million Fine Agreed to in International Shipping Price-Fixing Investigation
Earlier this week, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that Norwegian Shipping company Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics AS (WWL) has agreed to pay a $98.9 million fine for its role in a price-fixing scheme with other international shipping companies that lasted more than a decade.
As part of an ongoing anti-trust investigation, WWL is the fourth
First Circuit Upholds Longest-Ever Antitrust Violation Sentence Against Sea Star Line President
The First Circuit Court of Appeals recently upheld the five-year prison sentence of former Sea Star Line LLC president, Frank Peake, following his conviction as part a massive shipping price-fixing scheme centered in Puerto Rico. See the First Circuit’s opinion here.
The Government