Beginning Feb. 2, the U.S. Customs Service will start fining shippers and ocean carriers that fail to comply with its Advance Manifest Regulation. The regulation, also known as the “24-hour rule,” requires shippers and ocean carriers that bring goods into the U.S. to electronically submit complete container manifest information to U.S. Customs through its Automated Manifest System (AMS) 24 hours before the container is loaded on a vessel. With so many shippers and ocean carriers still conducting business via fax and phone, it’s unclear how implementation of the new regulation will shake out — even as the deadline for doing so quickly approaches. Full Story