CBP plans to implement its second piece of Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) under its new "agile" development program on Jan. 4, the agency said in an update. The implementation will allow for an expansion of the Simplified Entry pilot.
The 2014 annual user fee of $138 for each customs broker permit and national permit held by an individual, partnership, association, or corporation is due by Feb. 21, said CBP in a notice. According to 19 CFR 111.96(c), this user fee is payable for each calendar year at the port through which the broker was issued a permit or at a port referred to in 19 CFR 111.19(c) in the case of a national permit. Note that 19 CFR 111.96(c) also states that if a broker fails to pay the annual user fee by the published due date, the appropriate port director will notify the broker in writing of the failure to pay and will revoke the permit to operate. That notice will constitute revocation of the permit.
The World Customs Organization recently voiced its support for the World Trade Organization agreement on trade facilitation (see 13120922), urging member customs administrations to work with their government agencies to implement the WTO deal. The resolution from the WCO (here) came just after its policy commission, including CBP Commissioner Thomas Winkowski, met in Dublin. Among other things, the WCO resolved to engage with the WTO within the planned WTO Trade Facilitation Committee, "enhance its communication activities to raise its profile and that of national Customs administrations among political and business leaders," and provide more technical assistance to help toward customs reforms and modernization.
CBP posted a Dec. 1 version of its CF 1400 (Record of Vessel in Foreign Trade Entrances) electronic query report of the Vessel Management System (VMS), in accordance with 19 CFR 4.95, organized by entrances. CBP also posted a version of its CF 1401 (Record of Vessel in Foreign Trade Clearances) electronic query report of the VMS, in accordance with 19 CFR 4.95, organized by clearances.
CBP is requesting comments by Feb. 18 for an existing information collection related to the Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement (HOPE) Act of 2006. CBP proposes to extend the expiration date of this information collection with no change to the burden hours.
Beginning at noon on Dec. 18, CBP will open registration for its East Coast Trade Symposium scheduled for March 6-7 at the Washington Hilton, the agency said. Registration is available (here). CBP postponed the symposium, previously scheduled for Oct. 24-25, due to the government shutdown (see 13101602).
CBP expanded its information pages on several free trade agreements, said CBP in a CSMS message. The FTA pages now include:
In the Dec. 18 issue of the CBP Customs Bulletin (Vol. 47, No. 50), CBP published a notice of revocation of ruling and treatment regarding the tariff classification of 3D TV glasses.
CBP is requesting comments by Feb. 18 for an existing information collections related to customs brokers. CBP proposes to extend the expiration date of this information collection with no change to the burden hours.
Cargo volume at the Port of Long Beach increased by 2.5 percent in November compared to the same month in 2012, it said in a press release. Imports increased 6.5 percent to 296,638 twenty-foot equivalent container units (TEUs) and exports rose 9.9 percent to 151,950 TEUs, it said. August through October are typically the peak for ocean-borne imports, "as retailers prepare for a rise in buying as the end-of-the-year holidays approach," the port said. "The November imports are among the first products that are destined for store shelves in the New Year. "