According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection sources, the April 2008 customs broker license exam had a pass rate of 20.5%, with over 1,600 people sitting for the exam. Sources add that the answer key should soon be posted to CBP's Web site, and the letters notifying candidates of their April 2008 exam scores are expected to be mailed out the week of May 7, 2008.
At the April 2008 National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America's Annual Conference, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials1 stated that CBP is working to establish a Broker Compliance Management program.
On April 22, 2008, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials gave an Automated Commercial Environment update at an event hosted by the Baltimore Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association.
CQ Politics reports that farm bill conferees were still working to reconcile outstanding issues on crop subsidies, after lead negotiators reached a tentative agreement on April 25, 2008 on key elements of a compromise measure. USDA officials were noncommittal on whether President Bush would sign the measure. (CQ Politics, dated 04/29/08, available at http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=1&docID=news-000002713234)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted its report to Congress on the Automated Commercial Environment for the first quarter of fiscal year 2008 (October 1, 2007 - December 31, 2007). The report provides an update on ACE accomplishments, challenges, fiscal status, and upcoming program milestones.
On April 9, 2008, at the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America's Annual Conference, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Basham spoke about the need to address some of CBP's dated Customs broker policies and laws. Highlights of his remarks include:
On April 9, 2008, at the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America's Annual Conference, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Basham spoke about the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism program. Highlights of his remarks include:
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted a summary of changes to the Automated Export System Trade Interface Requirements (AESTIR) to its Web site, indicating that Version 1.0 was changed on April 14, 2008 as follows:
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued an ACE Reports CSMS message stating that CBP-sponsored telephone training on the Authorized Data Extract (ADE) will begin during the week of April 16, 20081.
At an April 2, 2008 hearing of a House Subcommittee on Homeland Security1, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Deputy Commissioner Jayson Ahern testified on cargo and border security issues, including Conveyance Security Devices (CSDs).