CBP CSMS Messages and Web Postings
U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Mexican Customs are jointly evaluating trade requests to expand the hours of service for commercial entries or transactions at the Bridge of the Americas crossing in the Port of El Paso/Juarez. Currently open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., 24-hour operations are being considered.
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1. CBP, Mexico Customs Consider 24-Hour Operations at Bridge of Americas Cargo Facility
CBP and Mexican Customs are considering one or more crossing locations that may be used to pilot the concept of extended hours for commercial crossings. In order to evaluate these requests CBP and Mexican Customs need to measure and identify potential traffic volume during the extended hours. To perform this measurement the agencies are requesting that commercial entities that wish to utilize and benefit from the extended hours make a written commitment to participate in the pilot program.
While CBP's news release says that statements of intent should be provided to CBP and Mexican Customs no later than 5 p.m. on July 18, 2008, CBP sources state that they will accept statements up to and including July 24, 2008 - the day that it scheduled a stakeholders meeting in El Paso (see news release for details, including the requirement that a copy of the statement of intent be brought to the stakeholders meeting).
(News release, dated 07/16/08, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/07162008_10.xml)
2. Updated "ACE on the Road" Event Schedule
CBP has posted an updated version of its "ACE on the Road" event schedule, which includes the following event:
August 7, 2008 ACE Information Seminar in New Orleans, LA - conference flyerwas also posted. Cost is $25 per person.
Topics for the seminar includes the current status of ACE, future releases of ACE, and ACE reports (live demo), etc.
(Schedule, dated 07/16/08, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/automated/modernization/ace_on_the_road.xml)
3. Updated TRQ/TPL "Threshold to Fill" List
CBP has posted an updated version of its TRQ/TPL "threshold to fill" list, a quick reference to monitor tariff rate quotas and tariff preference levels that are approaching the restraint limit or have filled the in-quota (low duty) rate. The list is divided into two sections - quotas that are at least 85% filled and quotas that are closed. (List, posted 07/17/08, available at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/trade/trade_programs/textiles_and_quotas/commodity/trq_thresh_fill.ctt/trq_thresh_fill.pdf)
4. Trade Program Points of Contact
CBP posted points of contact for the following trade programs (hyperlinked):
5. Other CBP Postings and Messages
CBP receives award for ACE development. CBP reports that it was among the 10 organizations out of more than 200 that received International Data Group's Computerworld Honors Program's 21st Century Achievement Award at a June 2, 2008 gala. CBP was esteemed for its ongoing development of ACE. (News release, dated 07/17/08, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/automated/modernization/whats_new/ace_award.xml)
Border Patrol's Weekly Blotter. CBP posted the U.S. Border Patrol Weekly Blotter for July 6 - 16, 2008. The Blotter provides information on Border Patrol activities during the specified week. (Blotter, dated 07/16/08, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/border_security/border_patrol/weekly_blotter/0706_0716.xml)
List of NEXUS enrollment centers, crossing locations. CBP has posted an updated list of NEXUS enrollment centers and crossing locations. The NEXUS program allows pre-screened, low risk travelers to be processed with little or no delay by U.S. and Canadian officials at designated highway lanes at high volume border crossing locations, at a NEXUS kiosk at the Canadian Preclearance airports, and at certain marine reporting locations in the Great Lakes and Seattle, Washington regions. (List, dated 07/16/08, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/trusted_traveler/nexus_prog/nexus_enroll.xml)
NEXUS member apprehended for larceny warrant. CBP reports that officers at the Pacific Highway port of entry apprehended a Blaine, Wash. man registered to participate in the NEXUS trusted traveler program, for an outstanding felony warrant issued by Whatcom County charging him with failure to appear for a larceny charge. (News release, dated 07/16/08, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/07162008_6.xml)
CBP advises travelers to prepare for traffic over Quebec holiday. CBP officials are advising travelers that traffic volume associated with Quebec's two week "Construction Holiday" could result in cross border traffic delays. This year's holiday begins July 20, 2008 and continues through August 2, 2008. (News release, dated 07/18/08, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/07182008.xml)