CBP Releases Known Importer Letters and Enforcement Guidance relating to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act

By Alexis Chandler on May 25, 2022 Posted in supply chain, US national security/supply chains

Earlier this year, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) released a statement on its website that it would be issuing letters to importers identified as having previously imported merchandise from locations or entities potentially subject to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA). Well, CBP stuck to its word and just recently released two sample Known Importer Letters.

One of the letters is specifically directed to Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism[1] (CTPAT) members,[2] while the other is directed to other U.S. importers. Both letters notify recipients that they “previously imported merchandise from locations or entities potentially subject to the Act.” The CTPAT letters also indicate that “subsequent entries of such merchandise may result in, among other things, suspension or removal from the CTPAT program, seizure, forfeiture and/or penalties, or other appropriate action under the customs laws.” The non-CTPAT letters indicate that “any future entries of such merchandise may be subject to CBP enforcement action, including seizure, forfeiture and/or penalties, or other appropriate action under the customs laws.” You can view the text of each letter here.

In each letter, CBP urges importers to be proactive and closely review their supply chains to ensure that goods or materials are not sourced from Xinjiang in violation of the UFLPA. The burden is on importers to apply due diligence, effective supply chain tracing, and supply chain management to ensure all imports are free from forced labor.

If you or your organization have not received a Known Importer Letter from CBP, this does not mean your organization is in compliance with the UFLPA or that your supply chain is free from forced labor. All organizations are expected to review their supply chains thoroughly to ensure goods are not produced with forced labor.

In addition to the Known Importer Letters, on May 20, 2022, the CBP released guidance on enforcement mechanisms under the UFLPA. CBP’s detention authority for goods imported from Xinjiang arises under 19 CFR § 151.16. Pursuant to 19 CFR § 151.16 (b), within the 5-day period (excluding weekends and holidays) following the date on which merchandise is presented for CBP examination, CBP shall decide whether to release or detain merchandise. Merchandise which is not released within such 5-day period shall be considered to be detained merchandise.

Under 19 CFR § 151.16 (c), if a decision to detain merchandise is made, or the merchandise is not released within the 5-day period, CBP shall issue a notice to the importer or other party having an interest in such merchandise no later than 5 days after such decision or failure to release.[3] The notice of detention is not to be construed as a final determination as to admissibility of the merchandise. Final determination with respect to admissibility of detained merchandise will be made within 30 days from the date the merchandise is presented for CBP examination, and such determination may be the subject of a protest.[4] 19 CFR § 151.16 (e).

CBP anticipates releasing additional strategy and guidance in advance of the UFLPA taking effect on June 21, 2022. We are tracking the CBP releases and UFLPA closely, so stay tuned for additional updates.

[1] CTPAT is a voluntary public-private sector partnership that works with CBP and the trade community to strengthen international supply chains and improve US border security. The Security and Accountability for Every Port Act of 2006 provided a statutory framework for the CTPAT program and imposed strict program oversight requirements.

[2] The members include U.S. importers/exporters, U.S./Canada highway carriers; U.S./Mexico highway carriers; rail and sea carriers; licensed U.S. Customs brokers; U.S. marine port authority/terminal operators; U.S. freight consolidators; ocean transportation intermediaries and non‐operating common carriers; Mexican and Canadian manufacturers; and Mexican long‐haul carriers, all of whom account for over 52 percent (by value) of cargo imported into the U.S.

[3] The contents of the notice are outlined in 19 CFR § 151.16, which you can view here.

[4] 19 USC § 1514 outlines the Protest process against decisions by CBP of any detained merchandise.

“Is Your Organization Complying With the US Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act?”

By Sarah Rathke, Jonathan Chibafa, Ludmilla Kasulke and Alexis Chandler on May 9, 2022 Posted in supply chain

The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act goes into effect on June 21, 2022. The Act creates a rebuttable presumption that “any goods, wares, articles, and merchandise mined, produced, or manufactured wholly or in part in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China” (or by an entity included on a list required by the Act) is prohibited from importation into the US under 19 U.S.C. §1307. What does this mean for your organization? Click here to find out.

The Effects of the Military Conflict in Ukraine on Supply Contracts

By Squire Patton Boggs on March 29, 2022 Posted in supply chain

Our colleague, Dr. Christopher Eggers, prepared an insight on how the effects of the military conflict in Ukraine are serious, far-reaching and, ultimately, unforeseeable at the present time. Supply relationships will not remain unaffected, and there are numerous questions regarding the consequences under contract law. Read our full insight.

Supply Chain Investigations and Legal Privilege

By Sarah Rathke, Jonathan Chibafa, Alexis Chandler and Thomas Keane on March 11, 2022 Posted in supply chain

Regulators worldwide are increasing their demands that manufacturers and retailers know and understand all aspects of their supply chains as they relate to Environmental, Social, and Governance (“ESG”) goals. Keeping the findings, communications, information, and reports generated in connection with supply chain ESG investigations is imperative to ensure full and candid fact-finding and to manage brand integrity effectively. However, maintaining legal confidentiality is challenging when an investigation includes fact-finding of third parties such as suppliers. To learn more on how to keep internal investigations privileged, click here.

Raw Material Surcharges Again on the Cartel Radar – German Authority Raids Cable Companies

By Oliver Geiss and Dannielle Jones on February 16, 2022 Posted in supply chain

In one of the first dawn raids of the New Year, the German competition authority have raided the premises of several cable manufacturers. The investigation arose in response to alleged coordination of metal surcharge calculations.

Metal and other raw material surcharges are used in many industries, in addition to the negotiated price, to allow for short-term changes in the metal/raw material procurement costs. They are particularly prevalent where the surcharge accounts for a high proportion of the final products’ total manufacturing costs. Often, the mathematical formula used to calculate the surcharge is linked to prices quoted on exchanges, and therefore increases or decreases the price automatically.

Despite companies’ increased awareness of the limitations of antitrust and competition laws, surcharge reviews may fall through the gaps of compliance programs. This may be due to, firstly, there being cut-throat competition in the industry on the base price, with the surcharge perhaps being in place for a decade or more, and secondly, because surcharges are in themselves a permissible instrument for passing on changes in raw material prices quasi automatically into the overall selling price of products, without the need for new negotiations.

However, suppliers are prohibited to form arrangements where they agree to introduce or maintain such a surcharge as a standard throughout the industry, thereby eliminating competition by way of other pricing models. In past cases, authorities have found that even where the formulas for the calculation differed – the fact the concept had been agreed (potentially decades ago) was anticompetitive. There have been a number of cases in the past, notably on quarto plates and steel, with the most well-known being Airfreight. Here, airlines were found to have allegedly agreed fuel and security surcharges. The case is still pending before the European Courts.

The recent raids on cable manufacturers are a reminder that companies using similar price mechanisms are well advised to review the origins of any surcharge formula to ensure there is nothing historically that could be construed as an agreement or concerted practice to implement a surcharge or continue to apply it.

Establishing Rules of the Road – DHS Soliciting Comments to Support UFLPA Implementation

By Sarah Rathke and Ludmilla Kasulke on January 28, 2022 Posted in supply chain

On January 24, 2022, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) began soliciting comments on a strategy to ensure goods alleged to have been made with forced labor are not imported into the United States from China, including the Xinjiang region. The comment window reflects the first major requirement of a law passed by Congress addressing forced labor risks in these supply chains, known as the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA, Pub. L. 117-78). Over the coming months, administration officials will craft a strategy to implement UFLPA’s new rebuttable presumption that all goods originating from Xinjiang violate the import ban. Importers must be prepared to face this increased scrutiny of these supply chains.

Fashion Sustainability and Social Accountability Act Proposed in New York

By Alexis Chandler on January 24, 2022 Posted in Fashion, supply chain

Happy New Year (are we still saying that?) from the Global Supply Chain Law Bog! In our ever-evolving society, the fashion industry has taken new heights. And with those heights, the industry is on pace to account for more than a quarter of the world’s carbon budget, according to the New Standard Institute. Indeed, the group indicates that apparel and footwear are responsible for roughly 4-8.6% of global greenhouse gas emissions. You may be wondering, “but how?” Well after that sweater you bought last year (or even last month!) goes out of style, you may donate it. According to CBS, some of those donations go overseas to Ghana, for example, to be sold. The unsold clothes, however, end up as landfills creating an environmental nightmare.

As a result and in an effort to create more regulation, New York is taking action with respect to the environmental nightmare. Earlier this year, the New York legislator proposed a bill—the Fashion sustainability and social accountability act, which would amend the general business law, requiring fashion retail sellers and manufacturers to disclose environmental and social due diligence and policies.

U.S. House and Senate Reach Agreement on Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act

By Ludmilla Kasulke and Squire Patton Boggs on December 15, 2021 Posted in supply chain

On December 14, 2021, lawmakers in the House and Senate announced that they had reached an agreement on compromise language for a bill known as the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act or “UFLPA.” Different versions of this measure passed the House and the Senate earlier this year, but lawmakers and Congressional staff have been working to reconcile the parallel proposals. The compromise language paves the way for Congress to pass the bill and send it to President Biden’s desk as soon as this week.

Upcoming CLE Hosted by Thompson Reuters: Why Is Everything Broken? Understanding Pandemic Supply Chains

By Sarah Rathke on December 14, 2021 Posted in supply chain

Partner Sarah Rathke is pleased to present an upcoming year-end CLE in connection with Thompson Reuters entitled, “Why Is Everything Broken? Understanding Pandemic Supply Chains” on December 20, 2021 at 2:00 pm ET. This CLE will discuss areas causing stress to supply chains including changes in consumption patterns, the labor market, global diplomatic relationships, and logistics networks around the world. In addition, this CLE will discuss emerging supply chain trends.

Click here to register.

Cross-Post from Lexis PSL: New Environment Act demands more diligence in supply chains

By Sarah Rathke on December 13, 2021 Posted in Legal Analysis, supply chain

This is a Cross-Post from Lexis PSL. Please contact Anita Lloyd and Simon Garbett with any questions.

The Environment Act 2021 (EA 2021), first introduced to Parliament in 2019, received royal assent and became law on November 9, 2021. EA 2021 places obligations on UK businesses to prevent deforestation. As published on Lexis PSL on November 30, 2021, our colleagues Anita Lloyd and Simon Garbett examine these new obligations and explain how attorneys play a role in assisting UK businesses in meeting the new responsibilities now in place. Read the full analysis here.