CBP is extending the comment period to Dec. 4 on an existing information collection for Customs Modernization Act recordkeeping requirements. CBP proposes (here) to extend the expiration date of this information collection without a change to the burden hours or information collected.
With major changes ahead for CBP’s national permitting scheme, licensed customs brokers are increasingly concerned with the prospects for the profession, said several brokers in interviews. The expansion of remote location filing on national permits to all entry types and government agencies, set to occur by the end of 2016 alongside full implementation of the Automated Commercial Environment, could allow brokerages to employ a single licensed individual to qualify all of their customs business. Brokers have been active in voicing concerns that such an outcome could undermine compliance and make customs brokering a less attractive profession, but have yet to find a solution acceptable to CBP.
Leaders of the Senate Finance and House Ways and Means Committees should quickly finalize a customs reauthorization bill to allow the benefits to take effect ahead of the holiday season, said a group of trade associations in a Oct. 1 letter (here). The groups, including the Express Association of America, the Business Alliance for Customs Modernization and the Chamber of Commerce, said without the trade facilitation provisions of the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act (TFTEA), there's a greater risk of "of a total breakdown" in shipment processing. Lawmakers should finish the bill and send it to President Barack Obama for signature by the end of October, the groups said.
CBP is requesting comments by Oct. 13 on an existing information collection for cargo container and road vehicle certification for transport under Customs seal. CBP proposes (here) to extend the expiration date of this information collection without a change to the burden hours or information collected.
CBP is requesting comments by Oct. 5 on an existing information collection for Customs Modernization Act recordkeeping requirements. CBP proposes (here) to extend the expiration date of this information collection without a change to the burden hours or information collected.
While the Automated Commercial Environment transition remains the focus of CBP's trade efforts, the agency is also considering some new initiatives to follow the move to ACE, said Cynthia Whittenburg, CBP executive director for trade policy and programs on June 1. Whittenburg discussed several of the items the agency is looking at while on a panel during an American Association of Exporters and Importers conference. Whittenburg pointed to updated definitions for identifier codes and account-based simplified processes among potential future work.
The text of the Trans-Pacific Partnership remains shielded behind closed doors, but U.S. compliance professionals are preparing for the sharp rise in trade flows and increased filing hurdles that are expected to accompany future implementation of the pact, several brokers and compliance consultants said in recent days. TPP chief negotiators are meeting in Hawaii this week, and speculation is rising over a conclusion to the deal. U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman recently predicted a wrap-up of the talks at some point in 2015 (see 1502050058), but the U.S. has failed to meet deadlines set in the past by Froman and other TPP officials.
The Department of Homeland Security should continue to prioritize efforts toward completing the International Trade Data System, a group of trade associations said in a letter to DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson (here). "Modernizing these government processes allows affected agencies to streamline operations and eliminate unnecessary time and costs from inefficient programs and procedures while protecting our borders," said the groups, including the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Business Alliance for Customs Modernization. "To ensure accountability, the appropriate metrics should be established and we recommend the creation of an implementation committee with equal representation from industry and government to move forward with 21st century solutions."
World Customs Organization Secretary General Kunio Mikuriya discussed a number of customs issues with John Danilovich, secretary general of the International Chamber of Commerce, during a Jan. 6 meeting, the WCO said (here). Norm Schenk, a UPS executive who leads the ICC Customs and Trade Facilitation Commission, also attended. "They discussed a wide range of topics of common interest, including Customs-Business Partnership, implementation of the [World Trade Organization] Agreement on Trade Facilitation and technology and tax issues," said the WCO. "They agreed to strengthen their partnership in support of Customs modernization as a core means of enhancing the supply chain and economic competitiveness."
The Department of Homeland Security will seek to finalize an "overarching strategic vision" in early 2015 as part of its pursuit of creating a Single Window, said Christa Brzozowski, DHS counselor for trade, in a Dec. 19 blog post (here). "This strategic vision will distinguish public and private experiences and capabilities today with the vision for 2016 and beyond," she said. The agency was put in charge of finishing the Single Window by 2016 as part of an executive order earlier this year (see 14021928).