LACBFFA Webinar June 3rd: Economic Outlook - A Pandemic Induced Recession
Wednesday, June 3, 2020 | 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Approved for 1 CCS/CES/MES credit
An overview explaining how aspects of the California and US economies are being impacted as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, covering the following topics:
- The Pandemic Induced Recession
- How the Pandemic triggered a recession
- Insights into Global Supply Chain
- Which industries will rebound first?
- A forecast of resurgent industries
- Special analysis on California economy
- How will we climb out of the recession?
During the webinar, you will have the opportunity to submit questions to the speaker.
Speaker
Jerry Nickelsburg
Director, UCLA Anderson Forecast
Adjunct Professor of Economics, UCLA Anderson School of Management
Wednesday, June 3, 2020
Program: 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
To Register, click below:
https://www.lacbffa.org/events/060320-webinar-economic-outlook-briefing-a-pandemic-induced-recession
SAVE THE DATE FOR WESCCON 2020
WESCCON 2020
Oct 1 - 4, 2020
Loews Coronado Bay Resort,
Coronado,, CA
 Join PCC President Eduardo (Lalo) Acosta in San Diego/Coronado, CA, for WESCCON 2020. Improve your business and your career with workshops, panels, roundtable discussions and town hall meetings on important issues facing our industry. Registration details will be published in early 2020! SAVE THE DATE!
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CBFANC President's Report
Evey Hwang 
CBFANC President Evey Hwang
Port News:
As shelter-in-place continues into June, many are speculating on what will be the new normal and comparisons to before versus after COVID. One certainty is the need to stay healthy and continue keeping safe.
CBFANC is pleased to have contributed goodwill to our port partners: port truckers. Appreciation to our board member Peter Gong with Great Way Trading along with his client xCommerces for their generous donation of 6000 masks that CBFANC donated to Port of Oakland’s Truck Work Group. On May 15 th, CBFANC presented TWG co-chair Henry Osaki with the masks which will be distributed to port truckers. Truck drivers are on the “front lines” yet many either could not source masks or not adequately informed on masks. CBFANC is proud to work with TWG to offer masks with the message of care.
May 6, 2020 Port Efficiency Task Force meeting: Last meeting with Maritime Director John Driscoll as he departs the port to take on Executive Director position at Port of Mobile. Oakland’s new Executive Port Director Danny Wan led meeting with announcing new Business Development Director Andrew Hwang. Much discussion was on effects of blank sailings due to COVID and next months predictions. Port of Oakland news can be found on their monthly newsletter. https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/CAPOAK/2020/05/12/file_attachments/1449641/Maritime%20Newsletter%20May%202020.pdf
PPE Donation to Truckers Made by Peter Gong, CBFANC Board Member
Evey Hwang, CBFANC President I wish to thank Mr. Peter Gong for his generous donation of 6000 quality masks, which he presented at the offices of Mutual Express. Henry Osaki of Mutual Express is co-chair for Truck Work Group(TWG).
Included in the picture above: Henry Osaka, Mutual Express Sales & TWG co-chair; Peter Gong, Great Way Transport & CBFANC Board; Hiko Shimato, Mutual Express President, Evey Hwang, Alba Wheels Up and CBFANC President
Peter’s action was a response to the need for outreach to truck drivers about the importance of wearing masks in public, whether it be at the terminals, standing in line at food trucks or elsewhere in public. The need for help was obvious, and the scarcity of the masks prevented the drivers from having the necessary safeguards.
Per Henry Osaki of Mutual Express: “Please remember that Mr. Gong has taken his own time, funds and effort to make this possible. These masks were generously donated and provided for you and truck driver usage so they have something they can use in the meantime until they can acquire face masks through their own means and sources.”
Peter printed and affixed to each of the 120 boxes special labels that were created to acknowledge the donors.
Rebecca Dye Named AgTC Person of the Year
Evey Hwang offers testimonial to Rebecca Dye's contributions and commitment to our industry
 
Evey Hwang Rebecca Dye
Only one person in the AgTC's 32 year history had been recognized as the Agriculture Transportation Coalition's "Person of the Year." On May 20, 2020, FMC Commissioner Rebecca Dye was awarded this honor for her courage, her supply chain work, the Teams she has convened, and the demurrage and detention Guidance she drafted and championed.
CBFANC President Evey Hwang was a strong supporter of this award, and she offered the following commendation during the AgTC event:
"Congratulating Commissioner Dye on the well-deserved recognition for her work on behalf of seaport stakeholders. We are ever grateful for her leadership on Verified Gross Mass (VGM) which was instrumental in a workable program for US seaports. As in the recent Demurrage and Detention Guidelines, she continues to demonstrate her resolve to use her office for necessary oversight on carriers and advocate good practices for all shippers."
Peter Gong Speaks About Recent PPE Donation
Below, Peter Gong making the presenation of PPE masks to the Truckers Working Group; Peter Gong not wearing a mask but wearing a nice tie!
 
Thank you for your immediate connection to Truck Work Group. I am so pleased to pass the good PPE to a reliable hand to distribute to vast numbers of truck drivers in the Port of Oakland area who really need masks but could not got them from the storage or existing vendors. Drivers are the biggest group of workers in our transportation industry that continue to work during this pandemic. Some of them need mask protection. Some of them need education. Henry Osaki of Mutual Express is such a good leader in TWG that he can perform both distribution and education. I have confidence in him. Both my customer friends and I were so happy to meet you, Henry and his co-workers in his Oakland office last Friday. We all share the same feeling of satisfaction that we have done a right thing to support the industry.
We are lucky that people in U.S. have quickly realized the threats and united to take actions to fight together. I believe that CBFANC and its members are all contributing to this country as essential business. But we may do better and more.
Port of Oakland Faces Challenges Caused by Pandemic
Port of Oakland Executive Director, Danny Wan
Port of Oakland Executive Director Danny Wan said on May 18, 2020, that the Port is readying countermeasures to offset crippling revenue declines. Actions are required in order to keep the Port and its Oakland International Airport operational.
There was a 95 percent reduction in Airport passenger traffic, as well as a downturn in Seaport cargo volume. As a result, the Port is projecting significant reduced operating income for FY2020, and a financial loss in FY2021.
Mr. Wan said the Port is responding with austerity measures and that if conditions worsen, further cost-cutting measures would follow.
The Executive Director said Airport and Seaport operations are considered essential services, and they have continued uninterrupted throughout the pandemic. He credited employees for stepping up to an unprecedented challenge.
FMC Establishes Committee to Review Ocean Carrier Practices
Peter Friedmann, OurManInDC, PCC Peter Friedmann reports from Washington D.C.:
On the heels of the Federal Maritime Commission approving a new Rule providing guidance on detention and demurrage practices, the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee has approved a bill to create the National Shipper Advisory Committee to advise the Commission on policies related to competitiveness, reliability, integrity and fairness in ocean shipping. Like the recent demurrage and detention Rule, this Committee is the brainchild of FMC Commissioner Rebecca Dye. She continues to lead FMC Supply Chain Teams to address persistent ocean shipping bottlenecks due to systemic port congestion throughout the U.S.
Commissioner Dye (pictured above) has addressed WESCCON and continuously works with many Pacific Coast Council freight forwarders. She is slated to appear at WESCCON, or at the PCC’s next in-person gathering, when COVID restrictions allow that to be scheduled.
Under the 2019 FMC Commission Shipper Advisory Committee Act (S. 2894), the FMC will appoint 12 importers and 12 exporters, for 3 year terms. It is unclear if freight forwarders will be selected, but if this bill is enacted, we can nominate several well qualified PCC forwarders.
Various federal agencies have industry advisory committees. For example, several PCC brokers and forwarders have participated in and continue to participate in the Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee (COAC) and working groups that advise Customs and Border Protection – Vince Iacopella, Brenda Barnes, Lisa Gelsimino, Sandy Cody to name a few.
NCSD Webinars Schedule for June Through August 2020
U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) National Commodity Specialist Division (NCSD) is hosting their next round of commodity-specific webinars and have released their schedule for June through August. Below is the list of available webinars.
Ports Suffer Steep Drop in Ship Calls
Jack Hubbard 
PORT OF HAMBURG
U.S. and European ports had 25% fewer ship calls this month, according to a report from the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH). Per the Wall Street Journal, May 19, 2020, the report states that container lines have cut back sharply on sailings out of Asia and that cancellations should peak in June with no relief in sight until the coronavirus stops spreading and the lockdowns are further relaxed. “The larger ports like Rotterdam, Hamburg, Los Angeles and New York will the impacted the most, “ advises the IAPH. Retailers in the U.S. and Europe have canceled large numbers of orders from Asian suppliers due to the lockdowns that have gutted consumer demand. Meanwhile, vessel operators are reducing schedules in order to conserve cash and maintain freight rates. Activity at the Port of Los Angeles is at 80% of normal, after an 18.5% year over year drop in container volumes for the first quarter of 2020.
NCBFAA G-TEC to be Virtual Event Due to COVID-19
Below is an announcement from NCBFAA:
G.TEC 2020 - The Show Must Go On(line)!
With COVID-19 impacting business and our daily lives, including the cancellation of events of every size and scope, we wanted to confirm that due to continued restrictions, our 2020 Global Trade Educational Conference (G.TEC) originally scheduled for August 3-4 in Chicago, IL will now be held online.
We appreciate your patience as we work behind the scenes to make this shift. We plan to open registration next month, and thank everyone for their interest and patience. We look forward to offering you excellent educational content in August.
COVID19 Derails CHB April 2020 Exam
Keith Hwang, Instructor
CHB January 2020 Broker Exam Prep Course |
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Shortly after the completion of the CBFANC Broker Exam Prep Course for the April 1, 2020 exam, CBP in CSMS#42152812 announced cancellation of the exam due to COVID19 concerns and they did not specify an alternate date. The current (though unofficial) expectation is that the July 2020 exam will be held, as usual.
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