CBP Updated its frequently asked questions for the Centers for Excellence and Expertise. Among the new information within the FAQs is an update on the agency's outreach with brokers to develop a defined role within the CEEs and plans for the opening of the recently announced CEEs scheduled to open in FY 2013.
CBP posted numerous documents providing overviews of the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) and its benefits for various industries as well as other information on ACE. Many of the fact sheets mirror the agency's previous list of ACE benefits by industry (here), though there are several industries that aren't addressed in the previous document.
CBP issued a final rule, effective Dec. 10, amending several sections of its regulations to remove outdated references and grammatical errors.
The CBP transition from the Automated Commercial System to the Automated Commercial Environment has resulted in the accidental release of confidential manifest information, according to international trade law firm Grunfeld, Desiderio, Lebowitz, Silverman & Klestadt (GDLSK). The firm said on its Website that CBP is aware of the problem and is working to fix it. CBP didn't return a request for comment.
House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-Texas) introduced Dec. 7 long-awaited legislation meant to modernize CBP and other customs-related agencies.
The Senate leadership pushed to Dec. 6 consideration of legislation (HR-6156) that would give Russia and Moldova Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status. The Senate has reached an agreement to consider the Russia-Moldova PNTR bill with no amendments, according to Senate Democrats. The House recently approved the bill, which would repeal the Jackson-Vanik amendment, which limits U.S. trade with communist countries.
CBP is extending the comment period to Jan. 7 for an existing information collection on foreign assembler declarations with endorsement by the importer. CBP proposes to extend the expiration date of this information collection with a change to the burden hours but not the information collected, it said in a notice scheduled for the Federal Register Dec. 7.
CBP Houston is having problems with the phone and fax lines in the seaport main office, it said in an email. Paperwork can be emailed to HoustonSeaportFusion@DHS.GOV. An emergency contact number was also provided: (281) 330-4939.
CBP is requesting comments by Feb. 5 for an existing information collection on applications for allowance in duties. CBP proposes to extend the expiration date of this information collection without a change to the burden hours or to the information collected. The notice is scheduled to run in the Federal Register Dec. 7.
A CBP advisory ruling regarding the country of origin of imported software products and their acquisition by the government marks a new understanding for software developed outside the U.S., said Talend, an open source software company. The company said in a press release the CBP ruling will benefit software vendors of all types.