The National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America and the Confederacion de Asociaciones de Agentes Aduanales de la Republica Mexicana (CAAAREM) signed a "voluntary cooperation agreement to enhance" trade between the U.S. and Mexico on April 20. Geoff Powell, NCBFAA president, and Jose Antonio Vidales Flores, president of the Mexican brokers group, signed the agreement in Tucson during the NCBFAA annual conference. The agreement "establishes the scope of private sector activities between NCBFAA and CAAAREM" that will facilitate "trade practices, ensuring security and lawful practices in the supply chain and generating growth and prosperity," said the NCBFAA in a news release. Among the features of the agreement are a coordinated certification process, shared trade information, the ability to market to each other's members and the promotion of best practices, said the NCBFAA.
TUCSON, Ariz. -- Filing of Food and Drug Administration entries in the ACE continues its rapid rise, with the latest data from the agency showing a “high percentage” of filers using ACE and the number of entries filed in the system “drastically” increasing since January, said Dominic Veneziano, director of FDA’s Division of Import Operations, at the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America annual conference on April 19.
The revision process for CBP Form 5106 is “just about done” and the revised version of the form, the Importer ID Input Record, “should come out momentarily, said Brenda Smith, executive assistant commissioner of CBP’s Office of Trade, during the annual conference of the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America on April 19. The new version of the form has come out of “legal review,” and is back at the Office of Management and Budget “for a second round,” she said. CBP first proposed revisions to Form 5106 in 2014 (see 14100815) met industry criticism (see 1412090024), so the agency put out a revised proposal in July 2015 (see 1507240009).
TUCSON, Ariz. -- The customs reauthorization law makes for an "exciting and perhaps challenging" time for customs brokers, CBP Commissioner Gil Kerlikowske said during a speech at the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America conference on April 20. He pointed to new requirements that brokers collect information on new and foreign importers and CBP's ability to revoke licenses due to terrorist involvement, as well as other pieces that will have the biggest effect on brokers. Kerlikowske was scheduled to testify on the new law for a Senate Finance Committee hearing scheduled for April 20, but it may be postponed so Kerlikowske can attend the funeral of a recently killed border agent, he said.
TUCSON, Ariz. -- CBP Commissioner Gil Kerlikowske plans to step down from his post ahead of the coming change in presidential administration, he said while talking to reporters at the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America conference. Kerlikowske didn't give specifics on timing, but said he would leave the position by the end of the year. Kerlikowske will focus on the implementation of customs reauthorization bill, among other things, during his remaining time at CBP, he said. After a lengthy delay, Kerlikowske became the first Senate-confirmed commissioner in about five years when he was sworn in during March 2014.
The Departments of Homeland Security and Health and Human Services celebrated recent progress in the effort toward ACE and the International Trade Data System in a joint April 19 letter to the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America. "Business users are currently filing approximately 92% of entry summary requirements in the Single Window and Cargo Release volumes have soared from low 40% figures to a record high of 70% in just the last several weeks," said Deputy Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas at DHS and Acting Deputy Secretary Mary Wakefield, Department of HHS. "The numbers reflect a significant uptick in adoption by many of the largest filers and active testing and engagement from thousands of smaller businesses," they said. The officials pointed to the process as proof of successful collaboration with industry and trade groups. "NCBFAA and other industry users have not only identified problems, but worked collaboratively with government agencies to develop and rapidly implement effective solutions," they said. Modifications to mandatory deadlines and added flexibilities for certain data elements are two recent examples of this partnership. It is clear that the engagement and expertise from the filers who will ultimately rely on the system remain one of the most critical elements of success. Deploying an effective ITDS remains a top priority for DHS and HHS "and for many other U.S. agencies and the Administration on a whole," they said.
TUCSON, Ariz. -- Implementation of new trade enforcement provisions of recently passed customs reauthorization legislation will not result in an overall increase in cargo exams, said CBP officials speaking April 19 at the annual conference of the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America. Though CBP is focused on creating its new Trade Law Enforcement Division tasked with issuing trade alerts (see 1602230080), as well as implementing new programs to apply risk assessments (see 1602170074), the agency’s overall goal is better targeted exams, not more of them, they said.
Being able to file a single customs declaration for all imports or exports in a given period is one of the few currently discernible benefits that companies would enjoy after implementation of a bilateral trusted trader framework pitched by the European Union in a proposal released March 21 on customs provisions in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (here), industry executives said in interviews over the past week. In addition to the single customs declaration, the proposal lists low documentary and data requirements, low physical inspection rate, and deferred duty payments as required trusted trader benefits, as well as provisions on customs single windows, though it lacks specifics on an EU de minimis increase.
The Food Safety Inspection Service recently provided guidance on procedures and requirements for importing egg products, in a letter to importers and customs brokers dated April 4 (here). The agency said it has seen a recent uptick in attempted imports of egg products from ineligible sources, possibly as a result of the effect highly-pathogenic avian influenza has had on the U.S. egg industry. FSIS has also seen an increase in egg products from ineligible countries or under incorrect product names, it said. The letter provides guidance on egg products under FSIS jurisdiction, misbranded egg products, foreign country eligibility, the import process, and enforcement provisions for ineligible or misbranded egg products that are not presented for reinspection.
The Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee will next meet April 27 in Washington, D.C., CBP said in a notice (here).