Enforcing the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act

Photo credit: Ethan Lucas

Earlier this year, President Obama signed the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015. This legislation closed the loophole in the Tariff Act of 1930 in order to bar products made abroad by convict, forced, or child labor from entering U.S. supply chains.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently released information on how it will enforce these recent updates to trade law. CBP’s enforcement includes a petition system for suspected noncompliance, a set timeline of procedures for investigating goods suspected of being associated with forced labor or other trade evasions, and annual progress reports to Congress. CBP’s enforcement of the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act is particularly important for U.S. companies importing seafood and international suppliers exporting seafood into the U.S.

To assist companies in understanding these trade and enforcement updates, FishWise has drafted a briefing document on this issue, that you can view here. The briefing summarizes current knowledge regarding CBP’s enforcement of recent trade laws and tips to assist businesses in remaining complaint.

For more information on this brief and recent trade legislation, please contact info@fishwise.org.