Minutes from the March 9, 2010 through April 20, 2010 meetings of the COAC Trade Facilitation Subcommittee have recently been posted to CBP’s Web site. During these meetings, the Subcommittee addressed a number of trade facilitation issues, highlights of which include:
Brazil has announced various measures to increase the competitiveness of its exports, including creation of a national export-import bank, expediting the return of export credits against PIS and COFINS taxes, broadening incentives on drawback exports, etc. (Press release, in Portuguese, dated 05/05/10, available at http://www.mdic.gov.br/sitio/interna/noticia.php?area=5¬icia=9798)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a final rule that will amend its regulations, effective June 4, 2010, to reflect the closure of the Port of Los Angeles-Long Beach Drawback Center.
The Treasury Department has published its spring 2010 semi-annual regulatory agenda for U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
The Department of Homeland Security has published its spring 2010 semi-annual regulatory agenda for U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
On April 8, 2010, U.S. Customs and Border Protection held a webinar that provided an update on Automated Commercial Environment and the International Trade Data System “Concept of Operations”.
Legislation to reauthorize U.S. Customs and Border Protection is expected to be a priority for the Senate Finance Committees in summer 2010.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued its Performance and Accountability Report for Fiscal Year 2009 which includes information on CBP's material weaknesses and instances of nonconformance, its progress in achieving its strategic goals, certain budget information, etc.
During the February 25, 2010 Departmental Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Related Homeland Security Functions (COAC) meeting, a CBP official and COAC's Trade Facilitation Subcommittee provided an update on account management (also known as management by account and account based processing).
The Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General has issued a report containing an independent audit conducted by KPMG LLP that addresses the strengths and weaknesses of U.S. Customs and Border Protection's fiscal year 2009 internal controls over financial reporting.