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US cuts will delay US-bound shipments

[ March 12, 2013   //   ]

BIFA is warning that recent savage cuts in US Government spending could delay shipments as overtime payments to US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers are axed. A sequestration programme was adopted by Congress to address the federal budget deficit on 1 March, triggering a series of automatic government spending cuts, totalling about $1 trillion over the next 10 years.

BIFA calculates that the cuts could delay cargo examinations by up to five days for delays for ocean freight and 5-6 hours for air. Radiation security security screening could also be delayed.

CBP says that perishable cargo will be prioritised and companies that have entered CBP partnerships such as the Importer Self-Assessment Program and the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism will continue to get priority processing.

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