CBP is currently awaiting guidance from the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) before it can implement recent excise tax cuts for beer, wine and distilled spirits that took effect Jan. 1, CBP officials said on their biweekly ACE call Jan. 18. CBP still hasn’t made any updates to tax rates in the Automated Broker Interface to reflect the changes, enacted as part of broader tax legislation at the end of 2017 (see 1712220024).
CBP revenue collections will be among the Department of Homeland Security operations that will be exempt from an all-out agency stoppage in the event of a government shutdown, according to a Jan. 19 detailed contingency plan issued by DHS. Some 54,000 of the 59,000 CBP employees will be "exempt and estimated to be retained during a lapse in appropriations," DHS said. "These employees are exempt since they are Presidential appointees, law enforcement officers, funded by other than annual appropriations, or necessary for the protection of life and property." Government funding will stop after Jan. 19 unless legislators can reach a deal for a continuing resolution.
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:
The National Marine Fisheries Service is proposing new regulations on the requirements and procedures of its planned Commerce Trusted Trader Program (CTTP) for high-risk seafood imports. Under the proposed rule, participating importers would have to maintain an “internal control system” of product tracing and verification and submit to annual third-party audits. In return, the importer would benefit from reduced entry filing requirements under the NMFS Seafood Import Monitoring Program, which took effect Jan. 1.
The House of Representatives is scheduled to consider the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill Act (H.R. 4318) on Jan. 16, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said on the daily schedule. The bill is set to get expedited treatment as non-controversial legislation "under suspension of the rules," it said. The MTB legislation was introduced in the Senate and House in November (see 1711090039). Companies (see 1712070027) and lawmakers (see 1801120016) recently began a push for quick consideration of the MTB. The last MTB expired in 2012.
Nearly 400 companies and trade groups signed a Jan. 4 letter to congressional leadership asking for a quick renewal of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program. "A retroactive GSP renewal fits squarely on a Congressional agenda to pass legislation that benefits American families, workers, and companies," the group said in the letter. "The sooner it happens and tariffs paid already are refunded, the sooner we return our focus to making competitive American products, providing consumers with goods at affordable prices, and growing the U.S. economy."
CBP will deploy statement capabilities in ACE over the Jan. 6 weekend, making ACE the “system of record for all statements with the exception of Reconciliation statements,” said the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders in an emailed reminder. “CBP will work with filers to address any issues related to this deployment of Statements in ACE, and will provide support as necessary,” hosting a series of calls starting on Jan. 7 at 1 p.m. and then continuing daily Jan. 8 through Jan. 12 at 2 p.m. (call in number 877-336-1828, access code 6124214). CBP recently posted its updated cutover plan for the ACE statements deployment (see 1712180042). Reconciliation statements will be rolled alongside the broader deployment of reconciliation itself in February (see 1712180042).
Sobel Shipping and Network Brokers International will merge, forming Sobel Network Shipping, the companies said in a news release. Among other offerings, Sobel Network Shipping will be a "nationally permitted Customs broker employing six highly experienced Customs brokers," it said.
International Trade Today is providing readers with some of the top stories for 2017 in case they were missed.
International Trade Today is providing readers with some of the top stories for Dec. 18-22 in case they were missed.