The National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America issued on February 11, 2009 an email notice stating that NCBFAA subject matter experts (SMEs) are working with senior managers at U.S. Customs and Border Protection to answer additional questions on the recent startup of the Importer Security Filing (ISF). In response to forwarded questions (additional questions can be sent to eid@ncbfaa.org ), NCBFAA states that (partial list):
On January 8, 2009, Representative Cuellar (D) introduced the Customs Business Fairness Act of 2009 (Act, H.R. 313) to amend the U.S. bankruptcy law (Title 11, U.S. Code) to establish a priority for the payment of certain claims for import duties, etc. paid to the U.S. by licensed Customs brokers and sureties on behalf of a debtor.
The Federal Maritime Commission has issued a press release announcing that on February 10, 2009 the Transpacific Stabilization Agreement decided to withdraw Amendment No. 011223-043, which would have provided authority for TSA members to discuss cost savings and more efficient use of vessel and equipment assets and networks.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection recently posted to its Web site a frequently asked question (FAQ) document regarding its interim final rule that amended 19 CFR effective January 26, 2009, to require Security Filing (SF) information from importers and additional information from carriers (10+2) for vessel (maritime) cargo before it is brought into the U.S.
CBP has posted Amendment 33 to the Customs and Trade Automated Interface Requirements (CATAIR) document. According to CBP, the CATAIR has been amended as follows:
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted revised versions of previously issued ACE ABI CATAIR1 documents. CBP has also posted a new ACE ABI CATAIR appendix and a 2009 version of its Change Record.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a new informed compliance publication entitled What Every Member of the Trade Community Should Know About: Coastwise Trade: Merchandise.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection recently posted to its Web site a frequently asked question (FAQ) document regarding its interim final rule that amended 19 CFR effective January 26, 2009, to require Security Filing (SF) information from importers and additional information from carriers (10+2) for vessel (maritime) cargo before it is brought into the U.S.
CBP has posted an updated version of its fact sheet on the benefits of ACE for sureties. The list of benefits has been updated to state that sureties can run a custom bond report as well as created customized reports and to state that sureties can query a bond by "Bond Number," "Bond Activity Code," or "Bond Status." The additional information section has also been updated to state that additional information is alsoavailable on the ACE training and Reference Guides pages on www.cbp.gov/modernization. (Fact sheet, dated 02/03/09, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/fact_sheets/trade/ace_factsheets/ace_overview/sureties_fact_sheet.xml)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted its 2008 "year in review" for the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) program.