U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has again revised its Trade Update for Hurricane Katrina. The major change reflected in this update is that the New Orleans Field Office now has been designated oversight of certain Louisiana and Mississippi ports.
The federal govt. scored a “D” or worse on 7 of 12 cybersecurity recommendations made in 2004 by the Cyber Security Industry Alliance (CSIA), the group said in its annual report. Despite progress -- like creating a Homeland Security Dept. (DHS) slot for cybersecurity & telecom issues (WID July 14 p1) and Senate committee action on the Council of Europe Cybercrime Convention (WID Dec 13 p3) -- the U.S. isn’t where it ought to be, experts said Tues. “Lack of leadership, priorities and execution” at the federal level is making the nation more vulnerable, CSIA Exec. Dir. Paul Kurtz said.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP's) Broker Management office has posted to the CBP Web site a notice which outlines various broker license and permit-related fees. The broker license and permit-related fees discussed in this notice are as follows:
According to the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) has issued a circular to its local departments of commerce announcing the first allocation of quantity for the export of textiles to the U.S. in 2006.
CBP has issued an ABI administrative message reminding the trade community that it now allows brokers with Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Portal accounts to pay duties and fees on a monthly statement for all of their importer clients and that importers are no longer required to establish an ACE account to participate in the periodic monthly statement (PMS) program. Instead, importers may now establish Non-portal accounts, which is automatic for those that are C-TPAT participants. CBP adds that it is simple and free for a broker to establish an ACE account, and comes with many other benefits, such as broker and importer statements, multiple financial reports, etc. (See ITT's Online Archives or 10/25/05 news, 05102505, for BP summary of CBP general notice announcing these changes to Periodic Monthly Statement.) (ABI message 05-1370, dated 12/01/05, available at http://www.brokerpower.com/cgi-bin/adminsearch/admmsg.view.pl?article=2005/2005-1370.ADM.)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has recently posted to the Pilot Bond Centralization Program section of its Web site a November 29, 2005 version of its guidance document entitled "Latest News and Developments." According to CBP, this document provides information on the Pilot Bond Centralization Program and current issues, policies, and procedures for processing bond applications.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a document entitled Guidance for Certificates of Reimbursement, which states that Department of Commerce regulations require that the importer file, prior to liquidation and the assessment of antidumping (AD) duties, a certificate advising whether the importer has entered into an agreement or otherwise has received reimbursement of AD duties.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted a notice on its Web site , entitled Notice of Examination for April 2006, which announces that the next Customs Broker License Examination will be held on Monday, April 3, 2006.
In mid-November 2005, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a notice announcing that the next meeting of the Departmental Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of Customs and Border Protection and Related Functions (COAC) would be held on December 1, 2005 in Washington, DC. (This committee was previously called the "Treasury Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of the U.S. Customs Service.")
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently issued a notice advising Customs brokers that the Triennial Status Report and associated fee of $100 for each license held by a broker whether it may be an individual, partnership, association, or corporation, are due during the month of February 2006 (i.e. by February 28, 2006).