New CBP processing fees kick in Jan. 1

U.S. Customs and Border Protection will implement various cargo processing fee increases for importers and carriers, effective Jan. 1.    U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will implement various cargo processing fee increases for importers and carriers, effective Jan. 1, according to a notice in the Federal Register.
   Under the 2015 Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act, which amended the 1985 Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA), CBP is authorized to adjust its cargo processing fees in line with inflation.
   For fiscal year 2018, this is done by comparing the average of the Consumer Price Index—All Urban Consumers, U.S. All items, 1982-84 (CPI-U) for the current year (June 2016-May 2017) with the average of the CPI-U for fiscal year 2014 to the determine the inflation.
   For example, CBP has set its new minimum merchandise processing fee (MPF) at $25.67, starting Jan. 1, and its maximum MPF at $497.99. The rate for calculating MPF (0.3464) remains unchanged. Informal entries will receive a MPF of $2.05.
   An informal entry or release processed by CBP personnel will be assessed a fee of $9.24, while the express consignment per waybill/bill of lading fee will be $1.03 per transaction.
   Other fees include: commercial vessel arrival fee ($448.70), with a calendar year maximum arrival fee ($6,114.46); barge and other bulk carriers arrival fee ($112.95), with a calendar year maximum arrival fee ($1,540.17); commercial truck arrival fee ($5.65), with a calendar year maximum prepayment fee ($102.68); railcar arrival fee ($8.47), with a calendar year maximum prepayment fee ($102.68); dutiable mail fee ($5.65); and a customs broker permit user fee ($141.70).