US Customs and Border Protection will want more information on products with Chinese origin as forced labour laws get stricter.
From March 18th, 2023, all products with a Chinese origin must be declared with a working postal code to US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Prior to today, there was no necessity for the postal code to be included in customs entries, but it is now a component of the updated Manufacturer Identification Number data element.
The new data element’s implementation is planned to provide notification to region importers that their goods have been produced, as well as notification if an invalid Chinese postal code or a postal code linked to the Uyghur region is provided.
Goods made in the XUAR (Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region) are subject to the Uyghur Forced Labour Prevention Act, which assumes that goods made in the region were made using forced labour. All goods imported into the United States from the Uyghur region will be detained upon arrival.
What transpires if imports are held?
Businesses must show proof that their products were not made using any forced labour if goods are detained under the new regulations in order to have them released.
According to the UFLPA Operational Guidance for Importers, importers may ask CBP for an exemption from the rebuttable presumption while they are being detained, following an exclusion, or during the seizure procedure.
Any expenses incurred as a result of a hold, detention, or customs hold will be the importer’s responsibility.
