What's New?

1. Welcome New Members 
2. 2020 Renewals
3. Conference Last Call
4. Coronavirus Update
5. ELDT Date Extended
6 .China Tariff Deal
7. Counsel's Corner

      Around Town

 A delegation of association staff and members will meet later this week with officials at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Explosives & Firearms to discuss pending industry issues including the misclassification of igniters. Thanks are extended to Board Member, Brian Panther, Pyrotek Special Effects and Ron Walker, Next FX for their ongoing work on this issue and for traveling to Washington, D.C. to participate

     Did You Know?

            
 
The APA has a charitable Foundation dedicated to educating youth and the general public about fireworks and their safe use. APA’s Safety & Education Foundation has a website www.celebratesafely.org with a host of educational resources and videos made available free-of-charge to both association members and the public at large. As you begin your pre-season planning, make sure to spend a few minutes exploring the site so that you can recommend it to your customers and local officials

Welcome! 

The APA extends a warm welcome to its newest Full Member, Event 1 FX, Franklin, TN and Supplier Member Flashpoint Logistics, Fredericksburg, VA.

2020 Member Renewals

2020 Membership Renewals have been snail mailed to all members. Thank you to those who have returned theirs already! Please contact the APA office if you have not yet received your packet.

Last Call 

To register for the APA Winter Conference!  Standard Registration ended February 1 and the on-site (late) fees will apply. Please note, our popular HazMat Training Class is sold out. Click here for a Registration Form.   

Coronavirus Update

We are grateful to APA Board Member Cindy Cheung, Inter-Oriental Fireworks, for providing an update on this health challenge.

As you know from the many news accounts, there has been an outbreak of novel coronavirus in China’s Hubei Province which has spread to all provinces of China. As part of the Chinese government’s strategy to contain the spread of the virus, all enterprises will delay their return to work from the Chinese New Year’s break until February 8, 2020 or until the outbreak is contained. This varies across the 3 provinces of Hunan, Jiangxi, and Guangxi. Most factories had planned to return to work around February 3rd. No one knows when the outbreak will be contained and all factories have been reminded to maintain workers’ hygiene to avoid the spread of the coronavirus.  

This health crisis has further complicated the recent fireworks production/shipping uncertainties of the past couple months. Liuyang government has announced that all fireworks can apply for resumption of work from February 1st. If approved, export factories can return to work on February 9th but can only work on packaging. More hazardous work such as mixing of chemicals and loading of stars can only resume on February 12th. Two political meetings to discuss the current fireworks production and shipping situation are scheduled to begin March 15th and last for 2 weeks. We do not expect significant production to occur until after these meetings conclude at the end of March.

On January 30, the US State Department issued a Level 4: Do Not Travel Advisory to US Citizens travelling to China and has also banned foreigners who have traveled to China within the past 14 days from entering the country. APA has spoken with representatives of the U.S. Department of Transportation who indicated that, at this time, no special precautions are needed for those handling imported products from China. We will continue to pass along information as we receive it. 

Entry Level Driver Training Compliance Date Extended

The U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced January 29 that it is extending the compliance date for the Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) rule  by two years to February 7, 2022. This federal rule, originally slated to go into effect February 7, 2020, establishes for the first time, training standards for entry-level truck drivers.

The rule was finalized in early 2017 and provided a three-year period before it took effect to allow FMCSA, trainers, fleets and states time to implement the necessary systems and procedures outlined in the rule. The delay will give stakeholders two additional years to prepare. The rule only applies to CDL applicants who receive their licenses after the rule’s effective date.

Phase One China Tariff Deal Executed

As was reported in a January 16 Advisory, President Trump signed the Phase One China Trade Deal on January 15 reducing List 4A tariffs that went into effect this past September from 15% to 7.5%. List 4A items include items under the HTS 3603.00.90 and HTS 3604.90.00 subheadings.

Additionally, the agreement cancelled proposed Tranche 4B tariffs that were set to go into effect this past December. Items on the 4B list include Display or Special fireworks (class 1.3G) imported under the HTS Subheading 3604.10.10 and Fireworks NESOI (including 1.4G) imported under the HTS subheading 3604.10.90. 

 Counsel's Corner, by Barry Hartman, Esq.
Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed a number of bills that will affect California employers in 2020. Most significantly, the new laws codified the ABC test for independent contractors, clarified sexual harassment training requirements and deadlines for employers, and created stricter enforcement of employment arbitration agreements. Other significant laws include: additional penalties for late or incorrect wages, expansion of leaves for organ donation and paid family leave, and prohibition of hairstyle discrimination. Learn more about these changes here.

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