Please note the following MIQ Logistics holidays. All MIQ Logistics offices within the specified country will be closed on the dates listed, unless noted otherwise.
News
Overland Park, KS, February 25, 2014 – The membership of the Los Angeles Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Association (LACBFFA) elected Mark Hirzel its president for 2014. Hirzel is director, Global Trade Management for MIQ Logistics. The LACBFFA is the premier organization in Southern California for international trade and United States Customs issues. Its membership includes more than 300 companies comprised of U.S. Customs brokers, freight forwarders, non-vessel operation common carriers (NVOCCs) and firms which facilitate international trade.
June 30, 2014 will mark the end of the current International Longshore Workers Union (ILWU) contract. The ILWU manages the labor for all Longshore work done on the west coast of the United States from Seattle to San Diego and Vessel Pilots in the Panama Canal.
“Despite month-to-month volatility in the final quarter of 2013, the U.S. LEI continues to point to gradually strengthening economic conditions through early 2014,” said Ataman Ozyildirim, Economist at The Conference Board. “The LEI was lifted by its financial components in December, but consumer expectations for business conditions and residential construction continue to pose risks.”
Please note the following MIQ Logistics holidays. All MIQ Logistics offices within the specified country will be closed on the dates listed, unless noted otherwise.
The Thai government has declared a state of emergency for Bangkok and surrounding areas amid anti-government protests. The affected areas are: Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani’s Lat Lum Kaeo district and Samut Prakan’s Bang Phli district. The state of emergency went into effect on Wednesday and will last 60 days (January 22-March 22).
The companies listed are known to be the subject of an ongoing and unresolved FCPA-related investigation.
“The LEI continues on a broad-based upward trend, suggesting gradually strengthening economic conditions through early 2014,” said Ataman Ozyildirim, Economist at The Conference Board. “Improving labor markets and new orders in manufacturing, combined with strong financial indicators, drove November’s gain. However, consumers’ outlook for the economy and the drop in housing permits continue to pose risks in 2014.”
Exempt International Transportation
The China Ministry of Finance (MOF) and the State Administration of Taxation (SAT) have jointly agreed to exempt international transportation from their recently implemented VAT regulations. The revised tax treatment is retroactive to August 1, 2013 when the nationwide regulations first came into effect. A joint circular (Caishui 2013 No 106) has been issued by the MOF and SAT explaining the exemption.