The World Trade Organization (WTO) trade facilitation agreement struck in December validates decades of express industry calls to modernize customs procedures, said Managing Director for Trade and International Affairs at FedEx Express Ralph Carter at a Jan. 29 Center for Strategic and International Studies panel titled “Future of U.S. Trade Facilitation and its Development Impact.” The facilitation agreement represents a victory for the global trading community, although the Express industry remains “concerned” over implementation, said Carter.
Frontier Communications’ $2 billion purchase of AT&T’s Connecticut wireline business is unlikely to mean major telcos are prepared to sell off similar statewide assets en masse, said industry experts in interviews. But they said telcos could consider similar deals in the future if it makes sense from a business perspective. Frontier said in December it’s buying AT&T’s wireline residential and business services in Connecticut, including that state’s portion of AT&T’s fiber network, as well as its U-verse video customers and some satellite-TV customers. The deal is expected to close in the second half of 2014 (CD Dec 18 p9).
The Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations (COAC) for CBP will next meet Feb. 20 at 1 p.m. in Washington, CBP said in a notice.
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The CBP Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Cargo Release pilot will be expanded to include ocean and rail modes of transportation, the agency said in a notice. The agency will seek new participants in the pilot program, which previously only applied to air transportation, and add three optional data elements for rail and sea entry filers, it said.
CBP should clarify how customs broker recordkeeping requirements apply to the storage of client data on third-party servers, potentially in a foreign country, said a broker in a ruling request dated Jan. 10. Such storage on remote servers, commonly referred to as "the cloud," has become increasingly common and CBP insight is necessary on the issue, said Robert Schott, president of Airschott, in the request. Cloud-based storage seems to be in "apparent conflict" with 19 CFR 111.24, he said.
The FTC and technology companies like Facebook and Microsoft will focus in 2014 on the proper use and education about big data, said their representatives during a National Cyber Security Alliance event Tuesday. “Whether motivated by the bottom line, connecting with customers, or enforcement and oversight,” said FTC Consumer Protection Bureau Director Jessica Rich, “we all have a shared responsibility because it’s all about empowering customers and enhancing trust.” She noted there are upcoming FTC workshops and studies on data practices. Microsoft Chief Privacy Officer Brendon Lynch said there is a need for “reasonable limits” on data use that are based on a better understanding of the context in which that data was provided. Facebook Chief Privacy Officer-Policy Erin Egan focused on the impetus for companies to inform users of their data use policies through multiple channels, not just a privacy policy heavy on legal jargon.
A committee that advises the Court of International Trade is beginning a preliminary look into the possibility of a “small claims” customs court, according to several industry lawyers. The CIT Advisory Committee on Rules recently created a subcommittee to look into the feasibility of the idea, which could make it cheaper and quicker for importers to challenge some CBP classification decisions that currently don’t merit the time and money required for litigation.
The China General Administration of Customs recently announced major changes to its valuation regulations that will take effect Feb. 1, according to reports from Ernst & Young (here) and Baker & McKenzie (here). The update is the first major overhaul of China’s valuation procedures since 2006, said Ernst & Young. Changes include the addition of a “circumstances of sale” test and modifications to the treatment of international freight and selling commissions. The new regulations also clarify procedures valuation of bonded goods for domestic sale.
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