In existence since 1913, IFFCBANO is a professional association comprised of licensed international freight forwarders, licensed custom brokers and transportation service providers located in the Southeastern United States with expertise in providing international transportation services nationwide.
Working closely with all U.S. government agencies involved in international shipping, the Association works to ensure the rights and interests of importers, exporters and members are protected. As an affiliate of the National Custom Brokers and Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA), our members work in conjunction with our national leaders in Washington to ensure the impact of new trade legislation on the trade community is positive.
Actively promoting the advantages of shipping through the New Orleans area since 1988, IFFCBANO works in conjunction and coordination with regional trade associations and industry partners to develop new economic opportunities for the community and its membership.
Working together to expand educational opportunities and trade development efforts, IFFCBANO and our member firms are poised to capitalize on the emerging opportunities in the Gulf region. We look forward to another year of servicing the international trade community and our membership.
Kevin Wild Page & Jones, Inc. VICE PRESIDENT
Jack Jones Ecolab DIRECTOR
Janet Colley Dupuy Storage & Forwarding EX - OFFICIO
Chris Melan Geo, Wm, Rueff PRESIDENT
Kevin Bardales BMI Shipping SECRETARY / TREASURER
Blake Biachini TCI DIRECTOR
Amber Menendez IFFCBANO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Sheila Skipper Roanoke Insurance Group DIRECTOR
Caroline Milek Milekco International Co., Inc. DIRECTOR
Jerry Becnel J. W. Allen & Company DIRECTOR
Adrian Lopez-Salazar Port of New Orleans DIRECTOR
Luke LaHaye Adams & Reese DIRECTOR
Keith Guidroz, Jr. Gilscot-Guidroz International PAST PRESIDENT’S COUNCIL
To Our Valued Members
and Partners,
Welcome to a new year! As we reflect on the significant achievements of 2025 and anticipate the dynamic shifts ahead in 2026, the International Freight Forwarders & Customs Brokers Association of New Orleans (IFFCBANO) remains committed to advocating for our members and fostering regional trade development.
A Year of Momentum
Our recent 37th Annual State of the Port, held with our partners at the Port of New Orleans, was a tremendous success. The insights shared and the connections made are vital to our collective growth. We extend our sincere gratitude to our speakers and sponsors; your participation was the cornerstone of this event’s impact.
Looking Forward
IFFCBANO continues to work diligently with government agencies and national organizations to ensure your voice is heard
MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS
Industry Engagement & Participation
• One of fourteen nominating organizations that participate in the selection process for the Port of New Orleans Dock Board Commissioners.
• Active members of the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA). NCBFAA engagement o!ers members national participation on trade-related issues.
• A nominating organization for the selection of the Annual C. Alvin Bertel Award. • Two members actively serve on
the Louisiana Pilotage Fee Commission.
• Bi-Annual meetings are held with local U.S. Customs & Border Protection management, fostering a solid working relationship.
Educational & Networking Offerings
• IFFCBANO hosts the Annual Port of New Orleans State of the Port Brunch in the fall.
• IFFCBANO hosts an Annual Liquid Bulk Symposium, bringing local and national industry leaders together to network and educate.
amidst these regulatory shifts. We wish you all a productive and prosperous year, and we thank you for your ongoing support as we navigate these evolving opportunities together.
Planning, our 2026 calendar is designed to keep you informed and connected. Please mark your calendars for these key engagements:
• March & September: Bi-annual Trade Meetings with U.S. Customs and Border Protection
• April: 2026 Liquid Bulk Symposium
• May: Annual Crawfish Boil
• September: Annual Shrimp Boil
• November: State of the Port Brunch
Check the website for details at iffcbano.org/events.
Christopher Melan | President
What makes being an IFFCBANO membership valuable?
Your membership, along with the help of our volunteer board and committee members, helps to keep IFFCBANO in the forefront by offering members the following:
• IFFCBANO hosts Bi-Annual Seafood boils.
• Bi-monthly newsletter
Other Benefits
• Industry resource providing routine electronic updates regarding issues impacting the trade community on local, regional and national issues.
• COMPLIMENTARY listing in the IFFCBANO annual directory.
• COMPLIMENTARY listing on i !cbano.com/members directing customers to you through various search engines.
• Monthly board meetings are held and bimonthly newsletters are distributed to members and industry leaders to address membership and industry concerns on a local and national level.
• Scholarship Opportunities: Members, their children and grandchildren are eligible for IFFCBANO’s annual scholarship awards. Two awards are presented during the State of the Port event. (Application deadlineSeptember 30th).
MARCH 3 BOARD MEETING 12:00 P.M.
MARCH 31 CUSTOMS MEETING CUSTOM HOUSE 10:30 A.M.
APRIL 3 GOOD FRIDAY HOLIDAYS
APRIL 7 BOARD MEETING 12:00 P.M.
APRIL 8 LIQUID BULK SYMPOSIUM
PORT OF NEW ORLEANS
9:00 A.M. – 4:15 P.M. 5:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M.
APRIL 12 – 15 NCBFFA CONVENTION JW MARRIOT, SAN ANTONIO
MAY 5 BOARD MEETING 12:00 P.M.
MAY 12 CRAWFISH BOIL THE KAMP
5:30 P.M. – 7:30 P.M.
MAY 25 MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY
JUNE 2 BOARD MEETING 12:00 P.M.
JUNE 5 WTC LOUISIANA INTERNATIONAL TRADE CONFERENCE ( LIT ) WINDSOR COURT
JULY 3 INDEPENDENCE DAY HOLIDAY
JULY 7 BOARD MEETING 12:00 P.M.
AUGUST 4 BOARD MEETING 12:00 P.M.
SEPTEMBER 1 BOARD MEETING 12:00 P.M.
SEPTEMBER 7 LABOR DAY HOLIDAY
SEPTEMBER 27 – 29 NCBFAA GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS CONFERENCE JW MARRIOT, WASHINGTON D.C.
SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER ( DATE TO BE ANNOUNCED ) SHRIMP BOIL THE KAMP 5:30 P.M. – 7:30 P.M.
OCTOBER 6 BOARD MEETING 12:00 P.M.
OCTOBER 12 COLUMBUS DAY HOLIDAY ( CUSTOMS )
NOVEMBER 3 BOARD MEETING 12:00 P.M.
NOVEMBER 11 VETERANS DAY HOLIDAY OBSERVED
NOVEMBER 20 PORT OF NEW ORLEANS STATE OF THE PORT BRUNCH INTERCONTINENTAL NEW ORLEANS 10:30 A.M. – 12:30 P.M.
NOVEMBER 26 – 27 THANKSGIVING HOLIDAYS
DECEMBER 1 BOARD MEETING LOCATION TO BE ANNOUNCED 12:00 P.M.
DECEMBER 25 CHRISTMAS DAY
ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS
It is with great pleasure that we recognize our 2025 1st Place Scholarship Award Recipient, Michael (Tripp) Lee III, grandson of Michael Lee Sr., Page & Jones, Inc.
Second place recipient, Jane Calistoga Tierney Luetkemeier, granddaughter of Hans Luetkemeier, The Dupuy Group
In recognition of the critical role education plays in preparing children for a lifetime of success, IFFCBANO is pleased to offer two scholarship awards on an annual basis to the hardworking students of individual members.
The Scholarship Awards are presented each year during IFFCBANO’s Annual Port of New Orleans State of the Port Address in November. Students are recognized for their scholastic achievements and commitment to education. To learn more, visit iffcbano.org/scholarships.
ANNUAL LIQUID BULK SYMPOSIUM
April 8, 2026
Port of New Orleans Auditorium
Program 9:00 A.M. – 4:15 P.M.
Reception 5:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M.
ANNUAL PORT OF NEW ORLEANS
STATE OF THE PORT BRUNCH
November 20, 2026 | 10:30 A.M. – 12:30 P.M.
InterContinental New Orleans
Visit our website iffcbano.org/events for details.
NAVIGATING THE TRADE LANDSCAPE
The global trade environment remains complex, with regulatory and policy developments continuing to shape how goods move—especially in the critical “last mile” of distribution, the final stage of delivering products to consumers. Tariffs, maritime regulation, and infrastructure access all directly influence costs, efficiency, and reliability across supply chains, and several key issues will define the trade landscape in the year ahead.
One major area to watch is a pending Supreme Court decision regarding the legality of tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Following oral arguments in November 2025, the Court is expected to issue a landmark ruling that could have farreaching implications. A decision limiting current authority could place billions of dollars in collected duties at risk, potentially reshaping tariff policy. While the administration may seek alternative legal authorities to preserve tariff structures, continued uncertainty adds pressure throughout supply chains, including downstream transportation and lastmile delivery costs.
At the same time, the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) continues to implement mandates under the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 (OSRA 2022). Although a recent U.S. Court of Appeals ruling invalidated specific “billing party” provisions for demurrage and detention as arbitrary and capricious, core OSRA requirements—such as invoice transparency and standardized dispute timelines— remain fully enforceable. These measures are particularly relevant for shippers and logistics providers navigating detention, demurrage, and congestion issues that often ripple into last-mile operations.
Another critical development is the FMC’s January 2026 investigation into carrier restrictions on chassis providers. Access to chassis is essential for merchant haulage and efficient cargo movement, and limitations can create bottlenecks that delay final delivery. Industry stakeholders
are encouraged to closely monitor this proceeding, as public comments are due by March 27, 2026.
Beyond regulatory pressures, environmental considerations are increasingly shaping last-mile logistics. Carbon emissions regulations and sustainability initiatives are influencing transportation modes and infrastructure investments, often redefining what cost-effective and efficient delivery looks like.
Honoring a strong commitment to sustainability, IFFCBANO works in partnership with all Louisiana ports to take innovative steps to address these challenges. Containeron-barge shifts freight from trucks to waterways, reducing road congestion and air emissions while also repositioning empty containers where they are most needed.
Looking ahead, the planned Louisiana International Terminal (LIT) will expand container-on-barge services while incorporating advanced green technologies. These include shore power, which allows vessels to plug in at berth rather than run diesel engines, and an electrified equipment fleet to further reduce local emissions.
Complementing these efforts, the New Orleans Public Belt Transloading Industrial Park in New Orleans East opened in August 2024, providing shippers with more efficient connections between rail and truck for access to America’s heartland. Additionally, the long-awaited St. Bernard Transportation Corridor will link LIT directly to the interstate system, improving freight mobility and easing last-mile congestion.
Optimizing last-mile distribution amid evolving trade policy, regulatory scrutiny, and sustainability demands will remain a challenge. However, with strategic investments, regulatory engagement, and innovative infrastructure solutions, South Louisiana is well positioned to meet these challenges and support resilient, efficient global supply chains.
Randy Kennedy, Senior Vice President Phong Vu, Logistics Director Jacqueline Turner, LCB, CCS 200 James Dr. East St. Rose, LA 70087 P: (504) 712-7139 phong.vu@randa.net jacqueline.turner@randa.net
World Trade Center of New Orleans 1100 Poydras St., Suite 3475
New Orleans, LA 70163
P: (504) 529-1601 info@wtcno.org www.wtcno.org
BUREAU OF INDUSTRY & SECURITY GUIDELINES
BY JOHN T. HYATT AND KEVIN BARDALES
In support of the safe and secure flow of international trade, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) published the following guidelines to assist the trade community in achieving a high level of compliance with Export Administration Regulations.
2020 best practices for preventing unlawful diversion of U.S. dual-use items subject to the export administration regulations, particularly through transshipment trade
Best Practice No. 1 - Companies should pay heightened attention to the Red Flag Indicators on the BIS Website and communicate any red flags to all divisions, branches, etc., particularly when an exporter denies a buyer’s order or a freight forwarder declines to provide export services for dual-use items.
Best Practice No. 2 - Exporters/Re-exporters should seek to utilize only those Trade Facilitators/Freight Forwarders that administer sound export management and compliance programs which include best practices for transshipment.
Best Practice No. 3 - Companies should “know” their foreign customers by obtaining detailed information on the bona fides (credentials) of their customers to measure the risk of diversion. Specifically, companies should obtain information about their customers that enables them to protect dual-use items from diversion, especially when the foreign customer is a broker, trading company or distribution center.
Best Practice No. 4 - Companies should avoid routed export transactions when exporting and facilitating the movement of dual-use items.
Best Practice No. 5 - When the Destination Control Statement (DCS) is required, the Exporter should provide the appropriate Export Control Classification Number (ECCN) and the final destination where the item(s) are intended to be used, for each export to the end-user and, where relevant, to the ultimate consignee. For exports that do not require the DCS, other classification information (EAR99) and the final destination should be communicated on bills of lading, air waybills, buyer/seller contracts and other commercial documentation. For re-exporters of controlled and uncontrolled items, the same classification and destination specific information should be communicated on export documentation as well.
Best Practice No. 6 - An Exporter/Re-exporter should provide the ECCN or the EAR99 classification to freight forwarders, and should report in AES the ECCN or the EAR99 classifications for all export transactions, including “No License Required” designation certifying that no license is required.
Best Practice No. 7 - Companies should use information technology to the maximum extent feasible to augment “know your customer” and other due-diligence measures in combating the threats of diversion and increase confidence that shipments will reach authorized end-users for authorized end-uses, unless a longstanding and trustworthy relationship has been built among the exporter, the foreign principal party in interest (FPPI), and the FPPI’s U.S. agent
If you have reason to believe a violation is taking place or has occurred, you may report it to the Department of Commerce by calling its 24-hour hotline number: (800) 424-2980.
red flag indicators
Use this as a check list to discover possible violations of the Export Administration Regulations
• The customer or its address is similar to one of the parties found on the Commerce Department’s [BIS’s] list of denied persons.
• The customer or purchasing agent is reluctant to offer information about the end-use of the item.
• The product’s capabilities do not fit the buyer’s line of business, such as an order for sophisticated computers for a small bakery.
• The item ordered is incompatible with the technical level of the country to which it is being shipped, such as semiconductor manufacturing equipment being shipped to a country that has no electronics industry.
• The customer is willing to pay cash for a very expensive item when the terms of sale would normally call for financing.
• The customer has little or no business background.
• The customer is unfamiliar with the product’s performance characteristics but still wants the product.
• Routine installation, training, or maintenance services are declined by the customer.
• Delivery dates are vague, or deliveries are planned for out of the way destinations.
• A freight forwarding firm is listed as the product’s final destination.
• The shipping route is abnormal for the product and destination.
• Packaging is inconsistent with the stated method of shipment or destination. When questioned, the buyer is evasive and especially unclear about whether the purchased product is for domestic use, for export, or for re-export.
BUREAU OF INDUSTRY & SECURITY GUIDELINES
1. The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) implements U.S. Government sanctions against Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, and Syria pursuant to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), either unilaterally or to implement United Nations Security Council Resolutions.
The license requirements, license exceptions, and licensing policy vary depending upon the particular sanctioned destination. The corresponding country pages are intended to assist exporters and reexports with determining the export and re-export requirements pursuant to the EAR. However, the webpages are not comprehensive and do not serve as replacements for the EAR.
Exporters and re-exporters should be aware that other U.S. Government agencies administer regulations that could also impact their export or reexport transactions. For example, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) also implements certain sanctions against Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, and Syria. Exporters and re-exporters are responsible for complying with all applicable regulatory requirements.
Link for Sanctions destinations — www.bis.doc.gov/index.php/ policy-guidance/country-guidance/sanctioned-destinations
2. In consideration of the ongoing situation in Crimea, BIS has imposed export restrictions targeted at Russia’s energy and defense sectors. For example, in August 2014, BIS implemented restrictions on exports of certain items destined for Russian deep water, Arctic offshore, or shale energy exploration or production. See: 79 FR 45675 (August 6, 2014) Subsequently, BIS expanded its military end use and end user controls to impose a license requirement on various items that may not otherwise require a license if the exporter has knowledge that such items may be used by military end users or for military end uses in Russia. See: 79 FR 55608 (September 17, 2014). In addition, BIS has expanded controls on certain microprocessors for military end uses and end users in Russia (as well as other D:1 countries). See 79 FR 75044 (December 17, 2014).
BIS remains concerned about efforts by front companies and other intermediaries, who are not the true final end users, to trans-ship or re-export U.S.-origin items to the Russian Federation in violation of these measures and other export controls. Even prior to the imposition of restrictions based on the situation in Crimea, front companies and other intermediaries obtained U.S.-origin items that may require a license to Russia through intermediate countries subject to a more favourable licensing policy under the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). A salient example is Wassenaar Arrangement dual-use items controlled under the EAR for National Security (NS) reasons. Therefore, BIS is providing additional guidance to U.S. exporters to prevent unauthorized re-exports to Russia, especially for transactions involving NS-controlled items or items listed in Supplement No. 2 to Part 744 of the EAR, which lists items that are subject
to the military end use license requirement. As described in Supplement No. 3 to Part 732 of the EAR, whenever a person who is clearly not going to be using the item for its intended end use (e.g., a freight forwarder) is listed as an export item’s final destination, the exporter has an affirmative duty to inquire about the end use, end user, and ultimate destination of the item to ensure the transaction complies with the EAR. In addition, the exporter should pay attention to any information that may indicate an unlawful diversion is planned. This may include discrepancies in the destination country and the country from which an order is placed or payment is made.
When inquiring into the ultimate destination of the item, an exporter should consider e-mail address and telephone number country codes and languages used in communications from customers or on a customer’s website. The exporter should also research the intermediate and ultimate consignees and purchaser, as well as their addresses, using business registers, company profiles, websites, and other resources. Exporters should always screen their customers against the U.S. Government’s consolidated export screening list. An interactive tool for searching this list based on entity name and address is also available.
Furthermore, exporters should pay attention to the countries a freight forwarder serves, as well as the industry sectors a distributor or other non-end user customer supplies. The exporter should then determine whether a license is required based on the likely country of ultimate destination and end use and end user. The exporter should consider not only the list-based license requirements specified in Supplement No. 1 to Part 738 of the EAR (the Commerce Country Chart) in conjunction with item’s classification specified in Supplement No. 1 to Part 774 of the EAR (the Commerce Control List), but also the end use and end user controls in Part 744 and the embargoes and special controls in Part 746. If the exporter continues to have any doubts or concerns surrounding the end use, end user, or country of ultimate destination after exercising due diligence, the exporter should present all relevant information to BIS in the form of a license application or refrain from the transaction.
Export controls are a shared responsibility between government and industry. If you have any concerns about suspicious inquiries that come to your firm, you are encouraged to contact your local BIS Export Enforcement Office.
If you have any questions about export licensing requirements or submitting a license application, you may contact BIS’s O ffi ce of Exporter Services at (202) 482-4811. If contacting the O ffi ce of Exporter Services via e-mail, please include a telephone number to facilitate BIS’s response to your request.
Link for Imposed export restrictions targeted at Russia’s energy and defense sectors — www.bis.doc.gov/index.php/ policy-guidance/russia-due-diligence-guidance
