Global Knowledge®

A recent report released by FreightWatch International, a global logistics security firm, identifies Brazil, Mexico and South Africa as the three countries exhibiting the highest risk for cargo theft. The “2013 Global Cargo Theft Assessment” places Brazil at the top of the list, with more than 10,000 cargo thefts reported in the past decade – 6,800 of which occurred in Sau Paulo in 2012. Mexico reported 6,000 incidents last year, 83% of which could be attributed to truck hijackings.

The report showed a sharp rise in European cargo thefts (up 24% from 2011), due notably to the targeting of pharmaceutical shipments in Italy. Asia also saw a rise in the number of thefts reported last year, largely due to the increase in demand for high-value consumables. While food and beverage products comprised the majority of reported theft incidents, high-value commodities (such as electronics) are quickly becoming prime targets.

In response to the report, Ron Greene, Vice President of FreightWatch International, advises that, “Understanding these trends can help shippers implement loss-reduction programs to minimize cargo theft, increase supply chain efficiency and deliver products intact and on-time.”

Follow this link to read the entire article.

Brazil

Brazil has added a Tariff Rate Quota.  The products affected by this are oseltamivir phosphate and medicines based on oseltamivir phosphate.  The following HTS chapters are affected: 29 and 30.

US

The United States has made updates to anti-dumping and countervailing duties.  The changes affected products across the tariff.

Brazil has updated duty and IPI rates for 2010.  The following HTS chapters are affected: 27, 44, 85, 87, and 94.  Brazil has also made changes in preferential duty rates with WTO member countries, affecting various products across the tariff.

BRAZIL

Updates have been made to both duty and IPI rates.  The following HTS chapters are affected: 29, 84, 87.

SOUTH AFRICA

The country has updated HS descriptions, General duty, EU & EFTA preferential duty rates, Environmental Levy and Insertion of HS numbers affecting certain chapters of the Customs Tariff.

ARGENTINA

New import certificate requirements have been established for certain products.  The following HTS chapters are affected: 28, 48, 51, 52, 54, 55, 60, 61, 62, 65, 84, and 87. 

BRAZIL

The Tariff Rate Quota has been updated.  The following chapters are affected: 15, 29, 53, and 72.

COSTA RICA

The Tariff Rate Quota available for the second half of 2009 has been updated.  This quota applies to the Dominican Republic, United States, Canada, Panama, Chile, and WTO member countries.  Several products are affected, as well as the following HTS chapters: 02, 04, 07, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, and 23.

US

The Export Administration Regulations (EAR) have been amended to reflect changes to the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) Annex.  These changes were accepted by MTCR member countries at the November 2008 Plenary in Canberra, Australia.  This rule also clarifies certain EAR controls to properly reflect the intent of changes to items that were accepted by MTCR members at past Plenary meetings.  The following ECN categories are affected: 1, 2, 6, and 7.

ARGENTINA

The 2009 Tariff Schedule for Argentina has been updated.  HTS numbers have been added and deleted.  Existing HTS descriptions have been modified for products classified under certain chapters.  The following HTS chapters are affected: 03, 15, 29, 30, 32, 38, 85, and 90.

BRAZIL

Brazil has adjusted duty rates and IPI rates.  HTS numbers have also been added and deleted, affecting certain chapters across the tariff.

Brazilian duty rates have been updated across the tariff.  The following HTS chapters are affected: 29, 38, 53, 71, 85.