CBP CSMS Messages and Web Postings
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued its weekly tariff rate quota and tariff preference level commodity report as of August 11, 2008. This report includes TRQs on various products such as beef, sugar, dairy products, peanuts, cotton, cocoa products, tobacco, certain BFTA, DR-CAFTA, Israel FTA, JFTA, MFTA, SFTA, UAFTA (AFTA) and UCFTA (Chile FTA) non-textile TRQs, etc. Each report also includes the AGOA, ATPDEA, BFTA, DR-CAFTA, CBTPA, Haitian HOPE, MFTA, NAFTA, SFTA, and UCFTA TPLs and TRQs for qualifying apparel and/or other textile articles, the TRQs on worsted wool fabrics, etc. (CBP's weekly TRQ/TPL commodity report available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/trade_programs/textiles_and_quotas/commodity/)
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
Communications Daily is required reading for senior executives at top telecom corporations, law firms, lobbying organizations, associations and government agencies (including the FCC). Join them today!
1. Weekly TRQ/TPL Commodity Report as of August 11, 2008
2. Other CBP Postings and Messages
ACE service restored on August 11th. CBP issued a CSMS message stating that at approximately 4:29 a.m. EST on August 11, 2008, ACE users were reporting slow response time. Some Trade users were affected when creating manifests. Service was restored at 5:29 a.m. EST on August 11th. (CSMS 08-000158, dated 08/11/08, available at http://apps.cbp.gov/csms/viewmssg.asp?Recid=17177&page=&srch_argv=08-000158&srchtype=all&btype=&sortby=&sby)
CBP posts additional GIFs. CBP posted the following additional GIFs (Great Idea Forms) to its Web site: CSPO_GIF 775 - Third Party Bond Query and CSPO_GIF 774 - Redirection of Bills, Refunds, and Liquidation Notices. (GIFs are used to propose new ACE requirements that could previously be proposed only via the formal Change Request (CR).) (GIFs, submitted 08/01/08, hyperlinked.)
Updated PMS fact sheet. CBP posted an updated version of its fact sheet on ACE Periodic Monthly Statement which provides the ability to make periodic payments on an interest-free monthly basis. CBP's fact sheet gives an overview of PMS, information on how to participate in PMS, and highlights PMS benefits. (Fact sheet, dated 08/11/08, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/fact_sheets/trade/ace_factsheets/ace_monthly_sheet.xml)
CBP revokes SENTRI membership for agriculture violation. CBP reports that officers at the San Ysidro, CA port of entry revoked the membership of a Secure Electronic Network for Traveler's Rapid Inspection (SENTRI) registered participant after they uncovered the participant attempting to smuggle undeclared pork into the U.S. (News release, dated 08/08/08, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/08082008_2.xml)
CBP Opens 5th Northern Border Air & Marine Branch. CBP reports that it officially opened the Great Lakes Air and Marine Branch on August 8, 2008 at Selfridge Air National Guard Base near Detroit to enhance CBP's northern border security operations. (News release, dated 08/08/08, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/08082008_5.xml)
Buffalo CBP advises football fans to prepare for cross-border return. Buffalo CBP officers are advising football fans returning from the August 14, 2008 Buffalo Bills-Pittsburgh Steelers pre-season game in Toronto that there are a number of steps that can be taken to facilitate their arrival back into the U.S. (News release, dated 08/11/08, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/08112008_2.xml)
ESTA FAQ. CBP has posted a frequently asked questions document regarding the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), an automated system that will assist in determining eligibility to travel to the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program. (FAQs, dated 08/08/08, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/esta/esta_faq.xml)
CBP posts ESTA information in multiple languages. CBP has posted documents providing basic information on the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) in Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish and Swedish. (Documents, posted 08/11/08, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/esta/esta_intro/)
CBP official addresses laptop inspections. CBP posted Deputy Commissioner Ahern's statement addressing questions and some misinformation that are circulating with regard to CBP's long-standing policy on searching of electronic media, including laptops. (Ahern's statement, dated 08/11/08, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/admissability/labtop_inspect.xml)