UTi EXPANDS U.S. CUSTOMS BROKERAGE BUSINESS

UTi EXPANDS U.S. CUSTOMS BROKERAGE BUSINESS    UTi, formerly known as Union-Transport, has expanded its U.S. customs brokerage business by opening a duty drawback branch in the company’s Chicago office.
   Under U.S. Customs regulations, shippers are eligible for refunds of import duties paid on exported merchandise. Union-Transport says this service will help its customers take advantage of a “long-standing but underutilized U.S. Customs program.”
   The Rancho Dominquez, Calif.-based forwarder has appointed Joe Criscione to national drawback manager.
   Union-Transport has also opened an office in Laredo, Texas to offer importers customs clearance service at the U.S./Mexico border.
   According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, cross-border trade between the United States and Mexico has increased by 141 percent to $196.6 billion from 1994 to 1999 because of the North American Free Trade Agreement. Mexico is the third-largest U.S. trading partner behind Canada and Japan.