CBP is seeking input on how to revise its regulations for broker penalties because the current set of factors considered by the agency provide an imperfect look at adherence to supervision and control requirements, said CBP officials Sept. 20. They spoke during a CBP Webinar on "Broker penalties," one of several Webinars on changes to 19 CFR 111 broker regulations. Email documents@brokerpower.com for a copy of the presentation used during the Webinar.
Movement on legislation reauthorizing CBP before the Presidential election remains largely uncertain, as the window for introduction gets smaller and smaller, said the lobbyist representing the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA). With most legislation likely drafted, there's still a possibility of a bill's introduction this week, said Jon Kent, of Kent and O'Connor, who represents the NCBFAA on the Hill. The House is in session through Sept. 21, after which it's on recess through Nov. 13.
The National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America said this year's Government Affairs Conference broke its attendance record. The conference Sept. 9-11 had "nearly 175 attendees," the association said. Next year, the conference is scheduled for Sept. 22-24, 2013 at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill.
The FDA is in the beginning stages of looking at a centralized review model for import entry, said a FDA spokeswoman. "FDA is currently exploring the idea of using a 'centralized' review model for import entry review," she said. "This exploration is in the very early stages and will be looking at whether the model is feasible, whether any efficiencies could be expected from such a model, if there would be any benefits to FDA and/or the regulated industry from such a model." An FDA official recently discussed the issue at the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America conference. (See ITT's Online Archives 12091423 for summary of the FDA official's remarks.)
CBP would face nearly $1 billion in budget cuts if budget sequestration occurs Jan. 2, as currently scheduled, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement $478 million. Virtually all government agencies involved, even just peripherally, with trade would face budget cuts of about 8.2 percent, if sequestration occurs, according to government figures. Officials of individual government agencies generally have been unwilling to discuss specifics of how they would be affected by the budget cuts.
Sept. 17-20 International Trade Administration renewable energy trade mission to the Philippines and Thailand -- http://www.ofr.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2012-16595_PI.pdf
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is beginning work to update its border procedures though reviews of its hold statistics and document review abilities, said John Verbeten, director of the operations and policy branch at the FDA. Verbeten spoke Sept. 10 at the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA) Government Affairs conference. It remains unclear exactly how much progress has been made on these efforts and the trade community would like to see more interaction with the agency on the issues, said Express Association of America (EAA) Executive Director Mike Mullen, who has been leading an industry charge to improve FDA's role at the border.
Federal Maritime Commission Chairman Richard Lidinsky removed the item on container freight rate indices from the FMC's Sept. 12 agenda "because in my opinion our internal legal analysis of this important issue was incomplete," he told us Sept. 12. "Before we vote to take this important step I wanted every legal aspect as clear as possible."
Granting Russia Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status and repealing the Jackson-Vanick amendment, which limits trade with communist countries, is being held up by "presidential politics at this point," said Rep. Peter Roskam (R-Ill.), speaking at the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association (NCBFAA) Government Affairs conference Sept. 11. Roskam, who sits on the House Ways and Means Committee, expects "that it will get done," but every day "we wait is a day that American companies are disadvantaged as they are pursuing the Russian marketplace," he said.
CBP won't go through with plans for a pilot that would waive local broker permitting requirements, said Elena Ryan, CBP's acting director, Trade Facilitation and Administration. Ryan spoke on a panel on rewriting broker regulations at the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA) Sept. 10. CBP previously said it was considering a pilot program that would waive the requirement to maintain a place of business within the district where customs business is being conducted.