U.S. Customs and Border Protection sources state that the "Quota Weekly Commodity Status Report" and "Threshold to Fill" lists were not issued during the week of February 20, 2012 due to problems encountered with the installation of Windows 7 on certain computers. CBP is still working on fixing the problem. Until it is fixed, those that need commodity tariff rate quota (TRQ) or tariff preference level (TPL) status can call CBP's quota section at (202) 863-6560.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued another CSMS message announcing that it is still accepting registrations for its March 6-8, 2012 seminar at the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA) meeting in Arlington, VA that will cover programming changes for existing and new functionality scheduled to be delivered as part of the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE). The seminar will target ocean and rail software developers and ABI software developers. Presentations will focus on: (i) Changes to CAMIR and X12 message formats required for the deployment of ACE Ocean and Rail Manifest, mandatory ABI changes required for this deployment, and the decommissioning of the ACS Ocean and Rail Manifest system; and (ii) Current and future ACE deployments including ACE Entry Summary Filing, Post Summary Corrections, PGA Message Set, Document Image System, Simplified Entry/Cargo Release, and Export Manifest. Registration is available at http://www.ncbfaa.org/.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted a February 2012 update on its progress with various ACE capabilities and other projects, such as the Document Image System, PGA Message Set, e-Manifest: rail and Sea (M1), ACE Truck, Automated Export Processing etc. With this update, CBP states that a DIS pilot test will be announced in March and M1 will be operational at all direct ports by the end of March. The update has added information on Simplified Entry and Simplified Summary, but removed the dates for the ACE Cargo Release contract award and the Simplified Entry test (the test is now expected to begin in April 2012).

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued the following releases on commercial trade and related issues:

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a February 24, 2012 press release on Acting CBP Commissioner Aguilar's remarks to the Washington Homeland Security Roundtable, where he stated that the agency must use new approaches to take advantage of today's technology. Aguilar noted that the agency must not "fight yesterday's war," but must see what is coming ahead. He plans to improve CBP's ability to harness information in innovative ways to address threats and challenges to the U.S. while expediting lawful trade and travel. Aguilar noted that CBP's other priorities include continued improvements in aviation security and working more closely with Mexico and Canada to improve border security and commerce. Security along the southwest U.S. border would also remain a high CBP concern.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a February 21, 2012 press release on DHS Secretary Napolitano and Acting CBP Commissioner Aguilar's visit to the recently established CBP Joint Field Command operations in Tucson, Arizona (JFC-AZ). They reviewed the JFC-AZ and commended its efforts on securing the Arizona border. In fielding a question on uncontrollable overtime (AOU) and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), Aguilar assured the agents that they would not be affected financially, stating that they "will be compensated for every hour [they] work," and that CBP/DHS are "working out a system that will ensure [they] are not adversely affected, it's just that it may not be called AOU."

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has announced that the weekend maintenance performed in the extended ACE maintenance window is complete and ACE is now available. On Friday February 24, 2012, CBP had announced that the regular ACE Maintenance Window (Saturday 2300 EST - Sunday 0500 EST) would be extended to Sunday, February 26, 2012, if needed, from 5am EST - 2pm EST.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a notice stating that effective January 30, 2012, the Office of International Trade/Trade Policy and Programs is no longer processing Remote Location Filing applications. This process has been transitioned to the client representatives within the ACE Business Office. The client representatives will be responsible for determining the filer’s ability to transmit via the Electronic Invoice Program (EIP), determine RLF eligibility, and convey results, once the filer has demonstrated it meets certain thresholds.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a February 16, 2012 version of its "Technical" Frequently Asked Questions document on the ACE Simplified Entry (SE) Pilot for air cargo. The new version has three new Q&As on updating and resending SEs, and four news Q&As on deleting SEs. The other sections of the FAQs have not been updated for new information.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement have issued the following releases on commercial trade and related issues: