CBP and customs brokers are working together to review and modify the agency's previously released notice describing filing and other operations at the Centers for Excellence and Expertise (CEEs), said Valerie Neuhart, director of industry and account management at CBP. Neuhart spoke on a panel Nov. 27 on CEEs at the CBP East Coast Trade Symposium. There's also still some uncertainty on exactly how CEEs will handle importers that import goods across several industry areas, stakeholders sad.
Federal Maritime Commission said the following have filed applications for a license as a Non-Vessel-Operating Common Carrier (NVO) and/or Ocean Freight Forwarder (OFF)-Ocean Transportation Intermediary (OTI) pursuant to section 19 of the Shipping Act of 1984. The FMC also gave notice of the filing of applications to amend an existing OTI license or the qualifying individual for a license. Interested persons may contact the Office of Transportation Intermediaries, Federal Maritime Commission, Washington, D.C. 20573, at 202-523-5843 or at OTI@fmc.gov.
The Food Safety and Inspection Service’s Nov. 27 proposed rule to amend import inspection regulations for meat, poultry, and egg products would allow for electronic submission of import inspection applications, foreign inspection certificates, and foreign establishment certificates through the Public Health Information System (PHIS) Import Component. But FSIS is proposing other changes that will affect importers. The agency is more strictly defining the time frame for prior notification of imported products, ceasing to accept foreign inspection certificate replacement guarantees for entry into the U.S. when the certificate has been lost or contains errors, and said it will work with CBP to monitor “failures to present” for import reinspection. Comments on the proposed rule are due Jan. 28.
In order to facilitate the roll out of the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE), CBP needs to complete the edits to ACE, said the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America in a White Paper it submitted to Commissioner Alan Bersin and then again to Deputy Commissioner David Aguilar outlining the position of the NCBFAA and the 900 companies it represents. It said the top priorities must be implemented before CBP even thinks about putting an end to ACS. NCBFAA said the top priorities include:
The Border Trade Alliance (BTA) announced the its leaders for 2013.
International Trade Today is providing readers with some of the top stories for Nov. 13-16 in case they were missed.
A Maryland man pleaded guilty Oct. 15 to obstruction of agency proceedings, in connection with giving false statements during his background investigation for a security clearance, said Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Gurpreet Singh Kohli, of Potomac, Md., was required to obtain a security clearance for a position with a defense electronics and weapons manufacturer based in Maryland. But during the investigation, Kohli minimized his relationships with Indian officials that resulted from his concurrent operation of NAVTEC, which was registered with the Department of State to act as a broker in the sale and transfer of U.S. defense electronics and related components, ICE said. The majority of NAVTEC’s customers were Indian government, military, and defense-related agencies. Kohli faces a maximum of five years in prison.
CBP won't release the names of the members involved in the customs broker working group that are working to define the role of brokers in filing with Centers for Excellence and Expertise. The agency can't release "the names of the group members because we weren’t given permission by each group," said a spokesman.
Gerardo Chavez, the president of the San Diego Customs Broker Association, pleaded guilty to organizing a conspiracy to import foreign-made goods in to the U.S. without paying customs duties, said the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California. Another person charged in the case, Carlos Medina, also pleaded guilty, the Justice Department said. As a part of the plea deal, Chavez will cancel his customs broker license, forfeit property, and pay restitution of as much as $18 million.
CBP updated its Trade Transformation document for November, providing some brief information on the customs broker working group that is developing guidance on the role of the brokers in dealing with the Centers for Excellence and Expertise (CEEs). The CEEs are industry-dedicated, virtual locations for entry summary review and are currently in a pilot phase. The virtual locations are hoped to offer a more consistent treatment of goods for each industry, though some concerns remain among brokers and importers.