CBP posted its fiscal year 2012 Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act (also known as the "Byrd Amendment") annual report. Among other things, CBP lists $28 million in antidumping duties that are awaiting collection and then disbursement, which will occur in the year in which the monies are received.
CBP is moving toward testing Simplified Entry for Lacey Act filings, said Vincent Annunziato, director of cargo control and release at CBP, speaking at the CBP East Coast Trade Symposium Nov. 28. CBP recently wrapped up its Phase 1 of Simplified Entry testing when it expanded the pilot to numerous ports, said Annunziato. (See ITT's Online Archives 12081319 for summary of CBP's plans to expand the simplified entry pilot. Simplified Entry allows for filing of shipment information earlier in the import process and is now being tested within air cargo.)
House Republican leadership chose Rep. Dave Camp (R-Mich.) to continue to chair the House Ways and Means Committee in the next Congress. "We will keep pursuing new opportunities in the global marketplace while enforcing our rights and holding our trading partners accountable," Camp said in a press release (here).
Los Angeles Field Operations of CBP issued Public Bulletin No. LA13-016 to provide updated information on the commodities and personnel assigned to import specialist and entry teams at the Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport. The guide lists the merchandise assignments, supervisor names and telephone numbers of the LA/LB import specialist and entry teams in effect as of November 28.
About 700 people registered to attend the CBP East Coast Trade Symposium Nov. 27 and 28, said a CBP spokesman. About 500 people registered for the Webcast, he said. The same event last year had about 750 onsite attendees and about 350 people registered for the Webcast, the spokesman said.
CBP’s Office of Congressional Affairs launched a new Congressional Resources section of the CBP website, it said in its Nov. 23 newsletter (here). The section is "dedicated to assisting congressional offices seeking information on CBP programs, policies, and operations," the agency said. The site includes "CBP news and events; answers to questions frequently asked by congressional staff; and valuable CBP references and resources." The new site is (here).
Putting in place a Senate-confirmed Commissioner of CBP is "critically important," to the agency, said Deputy Commissioner David Aguilar, speaking to reporters at the East Coast Trade Symposium Nov. 28. Aguilar was named acting commissioner last year after the term for Commissioner Alan Bersin's recess appointment expired. The agency hasn't had a politically appointed commissioner since 2009.
Statutory Changes for Part 111 Rewrite Hoped to be Avoided, but 'Yet to be Decided,' Says CBP's Gina
The need for Congressional action as part of CBP's rewrite of regulations for customs brokers hasn't been decided, said Al Gina, CBP Assistant Commissioner in the Office of International Trade. Gina discussed the CFR 19 Part 111 rewrite with reporters following the CBP East Coast Trade Symposium Nov. 28. The agency is in the early stages of revising its regulations to reflect changes to customs filing and business practices. Statutory changes through legislation would likely slow some of the changes to the regulations.
House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-Texas) hopes to see movement on two major pieces of customs-related legislation by the end of the year, he said at the CBP East Coast Trade Symposium Nov. 27. Brady hopes to introduce a customs reauthorization bill this year and expects a miscellaneous tariff bill (MTB) “shortly,” he said.
CBP released its Nov. 28 Customs Bulletin (Vol. 46, No. 49). While the Bulletin does not contain any ruling articles, it does include a Court of International Trade decision.