Agreement with a Foreign Representative

 

Negotiating an Agreement with a Foreign Representative 

 

Tips from the U.S. Int’l Trade Administration

 

https://www.trade.gov/negotiating-agreement-foreign-representative

Customs - Drawback

Customs

Drawback

 

 

Drawback is the refund of certain duties, internal revenue taxes and certain fees collected upon the importation of goods and refunded when the merchandise is exported or destroyed.

 

U.S. Customs Website:

 

https://www.cbp.gov/trade/programs-administration/entry-summary/drawback-overview

        

Electronic Code of Federal Regulations e-CFR

Title 19 Part 190:

https://ecfr.io/Title-19/pt19.2.190?utm_source=lnks.gd&utm_medium=lnks.gd&utm_term=undefined&utm_content=undefined&utm_campaign=(not%20set)&gclid=undefined&dclid=undefined&GAID=466329742.1591998471

 

 

EXIM Revises Short-Term Insurance Products to Provide Small Businesses with Enhanced Financing Flexibility

EXIM Revises Short-Term Insurance Products to Provide Small Businesses with Enhanced Financing Flexibility

June 9, 2020

Republication

www.exim.gov

 

The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) has revised key features of two short-term export credit insurance products that will provide U.S. exporters and financial institutions additional options designed to streamline the application process and enhance the customer experience.

 

Although plans for these measures were underway before the onset of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, the export credit insurance revisions will work alongside EXIM’s COVID-19 relief measures by providing small businesses with additional financing opportunities. Nearly 90 percent of EXIM’s authorizations directly support small businesses.

 

“As we come together to focus on America’s economic comeback, EXIM’s actions to improve standards and options will provide greater transparency in key features of our export credit insurance products, as well as further ongoing efforts to assist exporters with flexible financing solutions during this very challenging economic period,” said EXIM President and Chairman Kimberly A. Reed. “These changes are particularly important for our nation’s small businesses, and EXIM proudly stands with them as they continue to support U.S. jobs through the export of their ‘Made in the USA’ goods and services to the global marketplace.”

 

Short-Term Credit Standards

Short-Term Credit Standards (STCS) provide an overview of the standard credit information requirements EXIM needs to consider applications. The new STCS, which reflect input received from EXIM insurance brokers, has been developed to increase transparency and reduce standard documentation requirements to improve the customer experience.

 

The STCS changes, which took effect May 1, 2020, include:

• Increasing credit limit thresholds, which streamlines the application process by reducing the documentation customers need to provide.
• Expanding the STCS overview tool, which is available on EXIM’s website, to include more information designed to help customers find the best short-term insurance product for their needs.

 

Multi-Buyer Select Risk Insurance

The short-term insurance product formerly known as Reasonable Spread of Risk (RSOR) is now known as Multi-Buyer Select Risk (MBSR) to more clearly reflect the purpose of this insurance policy. MBSR offers a solution for customers seeking multi-buyer coverage for only part of their export credit portfolio, and EXIM provides a worksheet to help calculate the eligible portion of their sales.

 

Export Solutions - ITA Website

Export Solutions

International Trade Administration

https://www.trade.gov/export-solutions

Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act - FTC-Approved COPPA Safe Harbor Program

Swiss Digital Game Developer Settles FTC Allegations that it Falsely Claimed it was a Member of COPPA Safe Harbor Program

Republication

FTC, May 19, 2020

https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2020/05/swiss-digital-game-developer-settles-ftc-allegations-it-falsely?utm_source=govdelivery

A digital game maker has settled Federal Trade Commission allegations that it misled consumers about its membership in a program aimed at ensuring companies adhere to requirements of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).

In a complaint, the FTC alleges that Miniclip, S.A., a Swiss-based company that makes mobile and online digital games, falsely claimed it was a current member of the Children’s Advertising Review Unit’s (CARU) COPPA safe harbor program. Under the FTC’s COPPA Rule, companies are deemed in compliance with COPPA if they are a member and adhere to the guidelines of an FTC-approved COPPA safe harbor program, such as the Better Business Bureau’s CARU program.

The COPPA Rule requires companies that collect personal information about children under 13 to provide parents with notice of their collection practices and obtain verifiable parental consent.

“Consumers rely on companies to tell them the truth, especially when it comes to how they treat personal information about children,” said Andrew Smith, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “When companies like Miniclip promise consumers that they are an approved participant of a safe harbor program even after they’re removed, the FTC will take action.”

Miniclip joined CARU’s safe harbor program in 2009 and remained a member until 2015, when CARU terminated Miniclip’s participation in the program. From 2015 through mid-2019, Miniclip falsely claimed on its website and on its Facebook games privacy policy page that it was a member of CARU’s safe harbor program, according to the FTC complaint.

As part of the proposed settlement Miniclip is prohibited from misrepresenting its participation or certification in any privacy or security program sponsored by a government or any self-regulatory organization, including the CARU COPPA safe harbor program. Miniclip is also subject to compliance and recordkeeping requirements.

The Commission voted 5-0 to issue the proposed administrative complaint and to accept the consent agreement with Miniclip. Commissioner Rohit Chopra issued a concurring statement. The FTC will publish a description of the consent agreement package in the Federal Register soon. The agreement will be subject to public comment for 30 days after publication in the Federal Register after which the Commission will decide whether to make the proposed consent order final. Instructions for filing comments will appear in the published notice. Once processed, comments will be posted on Regulations.gov.

NOTE: The Commission issues an administrative complaint when it has “reason to believe” that the law has been or is being violated, and it appears to the Commission that a proceeding is in the public interest. When the Commission issues a consent order on a final basis, it carries the force of law with respect to future actions. Each violation of such an order may result in a civil penalty of up to $43,280.

Related Case

Miniclip, In the Matter of

Related Actions

Statement of Commissioner Rohit Chopra Regarding Miniclip and the COPPA Safe Harbors

For Businesses

• Blog: Do your COPPA Safe Harbor claims hold water?
• Children’s Privacy

Customs - Import - Automated Commercial System (ACS) and Automated Broker Interface (ABI) CATAIR

Automated Commercial System (ACS) and Automated Broker Interface (ABI) CATAIR

Republication

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

https://www.cbp.gov/trade/technical-document/acs/catair

ACS is used by CBP to track, control, and process all goods imported into the United States. A key component of ACS is the ABI, which allows qualified participants to electronically file required import data with Customs.

ABI is a voluntary program available to brokers, importers, carriers, port authorities, and independent service centers. Currently, more than 96 percent of all entries filed with CBP are filed through ABI.

CBP is currently working to transition cargo processing to the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE).  ACE is being developed as the primary, modernized system through which the U.S. Government will track, control and process all imported and exported goods.

As CBP processing is transitioned to ACE, the technical requirements for transmitting data to ACE via ABI will be posted on CBP.gov under the ACE webpage.

Updates from EXIM, May 6, 2020

Updates from EXIM, May 6, 2020

Republication

https://www.exim.gov/

external@exim.gov.

EXIM Increases U.S. Exporter Access to Capital and Supply Chain Financing During COVID-19
 
As part of its ongoing effort to support U.S. exporters affected by the pandemic, EXIM raised its Supply Chain Finance Program (SCF) and Working Capital Guarantee Program (WCGP) guarantee coverage option to 95 percent, up from the standard 90 percent. This increase is effective through April 30, 2021. The WCGP was implemented in the 1980s and is currently active with 49 DA lenders. EXIM has participated in many discussions with these lenders over the past two months in order to better understand the needs of exporters, which led to making the program more flexible for borrowers.

Round-Up of EXIM Relief Measures, Extended Through May 31st:
 
EXIM remains committed to helping exporters. Here are fact sheets on our various relief measures:

• EXIM Response to Scarce COVID-19-related Medical Supplies (Apr 14, 2020)
• EXIM Extends Assistance to U.S. Customers and Lenders Amid COVID-19 (Apr 10, 2020)
• EXIM Establishes Temporary Bridge Financing Program (March 25, 2020)
• EXIM Temporarily Expands Pre-Export Payment Program (March 25, 2020)
• EXIM Temporarily Expands Supply Chain Financing Guarantee Program (March 25, 2020)
• EXIM Temporarily Expands Working Capital Guarantee Program (March 25, 2020)