C-TPAT SURVEY
Stepping in where few have had success, the NIT League is sponsoring a survey about CTPAT. It seeks feedback from importers and their service providers about the program. You are not required to be a member of the NIT League or C-TPAT to participate. One of the more intriguing questions is “What would convince you to participate in CTPAT” and asks respondents to rank their reasons. Participants are also asked to rank the
barriers, as well as to articulate the advantages and disadvantages they perceive in the program, for their own companies and from their experiences. Throughout the survey, parties are also asked to identify issues about which Congress should be informed regarding the various topics.

The survey can be found at
http://survey.lbjlivewire.com/index.php?sid=3.
Now is the time to weigh in!!?

BIS EXPORT FORUM
BIS will present an Export Control Forum on March 13, 2006 in Newport Beach, CA. Modeled on the ever popular Update presented yearly in Washington, D.C., this one day program will be held at the Radisson Hotel. Topics to be addressed include changes to the EAR and Foreign Trade Regulations; Encryption; Evolving Country Policies and Licensing Issues; Deemed Exports; and Recent Enforcement Actions.

For more details or to register on line,
http://www.bis.doc.gov/seminarsandtraining
/Newport_Beach_Mar_13_06.htm#agendas.

While MORE TEXTILE HEADACHES
In a recent press release, Customs announced statistics regarding enforcement activities focused around China and textiles. Also posted on Customs website are underlying details. For example, 195 Chinese factories were visited in November 2005. 70 were closed, 24 refused admission, 50 were considered high potential for transshipments and three showed evidence of illegal transshipments. Textiles represent 43% of the revenue collected, so it is not surprising they account for so much enforcement activity by Customs and ICE. The press release talked in terms of $10 million worth of seizures. Audits resulted in nearly $5 million in collections! Stay tuned for more activity!