Updates: US Congress averted Government Shutdown - Here is what to know...

U.S. Congress passed a short-term funding bill measure late Saturday September 30th, 2023, averting the Government shutdown. President Biden signed the legislation within hours before the midnight deadline. This stopgap measure will keep the federal government funded and operating through November 15th, 2023. The legislation punts a potential shutdown until November 17, which includes natural disaster funding.

Key Information

In the event of a government shutdown, the 438 government agencies will suspend their normal operations. However, “essential” workers will continue to provide vital services, such as those relating to national security or activities to protect life and property.

The trade industry shall continue to prepare for impacts on trade operations for importers, exporters, transportation and logistics companies, customs brokers, and all other parties involved in global trade. 

• Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
• Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)
• Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS)
• Department of State’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC)
• Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
• Department of Agriculture (DOA)
• Department of Transportation (DOT), 
• Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• U.S. Census Bureau (Census)
• Federal Maritime Commission (FMC)
• International Trade Commission (ITC)
• Other government agencies (PGA)

What does it mean for You?

•    Please continue to communicate with Crane Teams, Exporters, Importers, Carriers, or related trade parties regarding the updates.

Crane will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as soon as available. Any questions please reach out to Crane Global Trade Compliance: globaltradecompliance@craneww.com  

UPDATE 28th September, 2023

Urgent Notice - Potential shutdown 

The U.S. Congress is currently at an impasse and the US Federal Government may be forced with a shutdown as early as October 1st, 2023.
This could potentially delay import and export clearances of goods by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Government Authorities. 

What to Expect from this shutdown? 

Import activities might be disrupted or delayed:

• Tariff exclusion request processing.
• Antidumping duty and countervailing duty investigations.
• Section 232 tariff exclusion requests.
• Other policy, regulatory, legislative, auditing, training and administrative activities.

Export activities might be suspended but continued enforcement:

• Export license applications, SNAP-R portal might be closed.
• Commodity Classification request.
• Encryption reviews and registrations and advisory opinion requests.
• Other export related administrative requests.

What does this mean to You?

• While your shipments involve above activities, please expect the related trade activities to be delayed.
• The delays might affect in but not limit to processing documentation, long wait times from US Customs Authorities.
• In the event of a shutdown, CBP personnel will continue their normal operations to ensure the clearance of goods. 

Crane will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as soon as they are available.

Any questions relating to the potential Government shutdown, please reach out to Crane Global Trade Compliance: globaltradecompliance@craneww.com