CBP is extending the comment period to Jan. 10 for an existing information collection concerning CBP protest forms. CBP proposes to extend the expiration date of this information collection with no change to the burden hours or to the information collected.
Drawback claims made on goods exported to Chile after January 1, 2012 are subject to U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement special treatment as described in 19 U.S.C. 1313(j)(4)(B) and 1313(n), said CBP in a CSMS message. U.S. duty drawback on exportations to Chile started being phased out January 1, 2012, for the following types of drawback:
CBP issued instructions for duty drawback claims for merchandise destroyed by Hurricane Sandy, in a CSMS message. If duties and taxes were paid and the goods are either exported or destroyed, the goods may qualify for a duty drawback refund under 19 U.S.C § 1313(c), it said. The importer will be required to provide documentation to CBP with details about the condition of the merchandise, as well as any insurance claims filed. If the importer has been reimbursed for duties and taxes via an insurance claim, the merchandise is not eligible for drawback, CBP said.
In order to facilitate the roll out of the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE), CBP needs to complete the edits to ACE, said the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America in a White Paper it submitted to Commissioner Alan Bersin and then again to Deputy Commissioner David Aguilar outlining the position of the NCBFAA and the 900 companies it represents. It said the top priorities must be implemented before CBP even thinks about putting an end to ACS. NCBFAA said the top priorities include:
CBP won't conduct a drawback compliance measurement for FY 2013 and instead "will be doing desk reviews," the CBP spokesman said. CBP performed a drawback compliance measurement test for FY 2012 following in response to the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General annual financial statements audits that found drawback as a material weakness for CBP internal controls over financial reporting.
Post-entry audits of customs filings remain outside of "customs business" and therefore don't require broker licensing, said Myles Harmon, director-commercial and trade facilitation at CBP, in ruling HQ114654. The ruling was in response to a request from Koot & Associates, which asked for CBP input on the legal status of a new subsidiary providing "customs compliance services." The company asked CBP whether employees of the new offices, who will work to identify errors in entry documents using post-entry audit software, are performing "customs business."
CBP will host a Trade Fair to provide members of the trade community the opportunity to speak one on one with representatives of federal agencies involved with imports and exports, CBP said in a CSMS message. The event will be Nov. 8 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the M.O. Campbell Educational Center located at 1865 Aldine Bender Road, Houston, TX 77032.
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related issues:
CBP is requesting comments by Nov. 20 for an existing information collection concerning CBP protest forms. CBP proposes to extend the expiration date of this information collection with no change to the burden hours or to the information collected. The notice ran in the Federal Register Sept. 21.
Korea’s strong rebound since the financial crisis was largely achieved without recourse to protectionist measures, said the World Trade Organization in its Trade Policy Review of Korea. The country has instead opened up its markets through bilateral trade agreements, including with the U.S. However, burdensome regulations, a complex and unpredictable tariff schedule, and high walls around certain industries pose challenges for Korea, the WTO said