CBP's Pharma & Electronics CEEs Were Renamed to Match Upcoming Scope, Etc.

(According to CBP, the CEEs will expand efforts to increase uniformity of practices across ports of entry, facilitate the timely resolution of trade compliance issues nationwide, and further strengthen critical agency knowledge on key industry practices. The CEEs bring all of CBP's trade expertise to bear on a single industry in a strategic location and serve as resources to the broader trade community and to CBP’s U.S. government partners. They will initially serve as a single point of processing for businesses enrolled in CBP’s trusted shipper programs: the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) and Importer Self-Assessment (ISA). As the CEEs expand, CBP states it will look for opportunities to work with industry on expanding the definition of a trusted trader.)

CBP Indicated Intent to Expand Product Scope of CEEs in October 2011

In November 2010, the Pharmaceutical center was originally piloted as a CEE and the Electronics center as an Account Executive (AE) pilot. Both pilots were permanently established as CEEs with AE components in October 2011. CBP sources had indicated that he agency was working to expand the Pharmaceutical CEE's scope to cover health devices and chemicals, and the Electronics CEE to cover consumer electronics and information technology. The centers were later referred to as "Industry Integration Centers" in CBP news releases¹. (See ITT's Online Archives 11102610 for summary.)

CEE to Be Expanded to Include Health & All Chemicals, Consumer Electronics & IT

Sources at the Pharmaceuticals CEE have confirmed that the center is now referred to as the "Industry Integration Center for Pharmaceuticals, Health and Chemicals CEE." Sources have also indicated that CBP revised the center's name in anticipation of its intent to expand the product scope of the CEE to include health equipment (e.g., wheelchairs) and all chemicals (not just those related to pharmaceuticals or medical purposes). According to sources at the CEE, chemicals is one of the largest industries, making up about 50% of imports.

The Electronics center is also now referred to as the "Information Technology and Consumer Electronics CEE" for its expected expansion.

Expanded Scope of CEEs Expected to Take Effect Mid FY 2012

Sources stated that CBP is already in the process of conducting studies and working on the expanded product scope of the CEEs. They stated CBP intends for the expansion to take effect in the near future, around mid-fiscal year 2012 (March, April, May). In the meantime, the CEEs are operating with their original product coverage.

CBP Also Plans to Create CEEs for Add'l 8 Industries over Next 3 Yrs

In a recently updated Frequently Asked Questions page, CBP states that it plans to establish additional CEEs over the next three years, after which, the full range of imported commodities would be covered by the CEEs.

In October 2011, CBP had proposed² CEEs be created for an additional eight industries, including: (i) agriculture and prepared products; (ii) automotive and aerospace; (iii) base metals and machinery; (iv) consumer products; (v) customhouse brokers; (vi) industrial and manufacturing materials; (vii) petroleum, natural gas and minerals; and (viii) textiles, wearing apparel and footwear.

¹See ITT's Online Archives 11120903 and 11121601 for summaries of CBP referring to the Pharmaceuticals and Electronics centers as "industry integration centers."

²According to documents CBP provided for its October 4, 2011 Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of Customs and Border Protection (COAC) meeting.

(See ITT's Online Archives 12011310 for initial summary of CBP again renaming the Pharmaceuticals and Electronics centers to show an expanded scope.

See ITT's Online Archives 11121307 for summary of the function and benefits of the Pharmaceuticals and Electronics centers.)

CBP's webpage for CEEs is available here.