U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) posted an administrative message on February 13, 2007 stating that the port of St. Louis was closed due to limited broker activity and inclement weather. However, CBP stated that it would continue clearance of international flights. (Adm: 07-0051, dated 02/13/07, available at http://www.brokerpower.com/cgi-bin/adminsearch/admmsg.view.pl?article=2007/2007-0051.ADM )
According to The Journal of Commerce, U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP's) Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) is very close to mutual recognition status with New Zealand's Security Export Scheme, a program available to the top 200 NZ companies that account for 60 percent of exports to the U.S. (JoC, dated 01/22/07, available at www.joc.com )
In December 2006, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued its minimum security criteria for customs brokers already enrolled in the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) program, or for those wishing to join this voluntary supply chain security program. At that time, CBP also issued its implementation plan for the new C-TPAT minimum security criteria for customs brokers.
According to sources at the International Trade Commission (ITC) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), some of the underlying tariff numbers for 2007 Chapter 99 tariff numbers are more up-to-date in CBP's Automated Broker Interface (ABI) records and Harmonized records, than in the ITC's electronic and print version of the 2007 Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site a frequently asked question (FAQ) document which reflects CBP's current thinking on its draft proposal1 to require 10 additional data elements from importers 24 hours prior to foreign lading and 2 data sets from ocean carriers (also referred to as Security Filing (SF) and the 10+2 proposal).
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted a textile book transmittal (TBT)1 on its Web site which states that in its review of textile and apparel entry summaries, it has found both brokers and importers to have made egregious errors in the reporting of statistical data, such that the entry documents do not correctly reflect the transactions. CBP states that these errors occur in the reporting of quantity, country of origin, classification, and manufacturer identification number.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a notice reopening the comment period until February 26, 2007 on its proposed rule to amend its regulations governing foreign and domestic drug establishment registration and listing for human drugs, including drugs that are regulated under a biologics license application, and animal drugs.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has previously announced that the next Customs Broker License Examination will be held on Monday, April 2, 2007.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site another revised (February 2007) version of its Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) "Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on e-Manifest" (electronic manifest).
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site an updated version of its lengthy document on the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) entitled "ACE Frequently Asked Questions."