International Trade Law News

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has set up a page on its website containing news and information on customs-related issues associated with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. CPB has stated that protests, entry summaries, and duty collections that could not be filed in the ports of New Orleans, Gramercy, Baton Rouge, Mobile, Gulfport and Pasagoula prior to closure due to Hurricane Katrina will not be deemed late or assessed penalties. The Port of Memphis has been designated to receive entry-related items that would have been filed at the ports noted above.

In addition, the Department of Homeland Security has issued a waiver of the Jones Act to permit non-coastwise-qualified vessels (i.e., not U.S.-built, owned and documented) to help distribute petroleum and refined petroleum products to where it is needed. The waiver of the Jones Act applies only to vessels transporting petroleum and refined petroleum products and ends September 19, 2005 at 12: 01 a.m. eastern daylight time.

The CBP website can be viewed at the folllowing link:
www.customs.gov/xp/cgov/import/
communications_to_industry/katrina/trade_update_katrina.xml.