The government of Canada issued the following trade-related notices for Sept. 15 (note that some may also be given separate headlines).
Mobile financial systems present privacy and security concerns for consumers and raise the risk of data brokers gaining consumer information without explicit consent, commented the FTC Thursday to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (http://1.usa.gov/1tHQPkH). It acknowledged that “mobile technologies provide consumers with unprecedented efficiency and convenience to conduct financial transactions.” The comments responded to a CFPB request for information this summer. The FTC mentioned mobile banking and location-based discounts as several perks to mobile finance: “Some mobile technologies, such as mobile carrier billing, may be especially beneficial for unbanked and underbanked consumers.” But with the benefits come risks, the FTC said. “Consumers using mobile financial services may be at risk for liability for unauthorized charges or unfair billing, as well as the increased collection, use, and sharing of consumers’ personal and financial data,” the FTC said. “These issues may raise particular concerns for the underserved or economically vulnerable consumers using these services.” Mobile payment security has been widely discussed recently, after Apple revealed its mobile wallet platform Apple Pay, which lets customers upload credit card information and simply use their phone to pay at participating retailers (WID Sept 10 p9). Apple said Apple Pay -- by generating a one-time-only number for each transaction and limiting credit card number exposure -- is more secure than credit cards (WID Sept 10 p18). The FTC issued a 2013 full report on mobile payments (http://1.usa.gov/1qodt03), which highlighted “the importance of clear disclosures about dispute resolution and liability limits and the need for mobile payment companies to provide greater transparency surrounding their data practices,” said the commission.
CBP is expected to publish a Federal Register notice announcing an export manifest pilot program in "coming weeks," said Elizabeth Merritt, director of cargo services at Airlines for America. Merritt, who also co-chairs the trade subcommittee within the Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations export committee, spoke during the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America Government Affairs Conference on Sept. 15. CBP has said it "is developing automated export manifest functionality for all modes of transportation" and "will be rolled out as pilots over the next year pending publication of final regulation changes removing paper filing as an option and allowing for electronic filing" (here). Export manifest work has progressed in recent months to look at the processes involved, she said. That has allowed the subcommittee to develop some more "detailed" solutions, said Merritt.
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CBP Commissioner Gil Kerlikowske promoted Brenda Smith, who previously headed up the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) business office at the agency, as assistant commissioner in the Office of International Trade, CBP said in a Sept. 11 press release. Smith takes over for Rich DiNucci, who led the Office of International Trade in an acting capacity since Al Gina retired last year (see 13080802). DiNucci was moved to the Office of Field Operations, where he will be executive director of Cargo Conveyance and Security, said the agency.
Consumer Product Safety Commission Chairman Elliot Kaye remains fully committed to electronic filing of certificates of compliance, and prefers a data elements approach rather than use of CBP’s Document Imaging System, Kaye said during a meeting at CPSC headquarters on Sept. 9. But with a public workshop on electronic certificates of compliance fast approaching, industry members told Kaye that CPSC needs to work closely with the trade to come up with a system that gives CPSC the information it needs to effectively target risk without crippling express couriers’ ability to quickly process shipments. The meeting included representatives from the the Express Association of America, National Retail Federation, FedEx and DHL.
CBP has decided against going forward with a controversial update to an Informed Compliance Publication (ICP) that would have spelled out the first sale verification measures available to the agency, the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America said. According to the NCBFAA, the CBP decision was made in response to industry comments, most of which were highly critical of the agency's effort (see 14080624, 14081416 and 14082926). Although CBP has not made any official communication that the ICP revisions will be scuttled, there have been some indications to that effect, said Thomas Travis, managing partner at Sandler Travis, a law firm that has advocated strongly against the ICP updates.
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The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service launched a new website that gives importers another option for filing Lacey Act Declarations electronically, the agency said Sept. 3. The Lacey Act Web Governance System (LAWGS) (here) allows importers and their customs brokers to log into APHIS systems and enter their PPQ Form 505 directly. The new system is not intended to replace filing of Lacey Act Declarations in the Automated Broker Interface, but is instead intended to give remaining paper filers an electronic option. LAWGS will eventually replace all paper submissions, said APHIS.
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