CBP began use of the Broker Known Importer Program (BKIP), said the agency in a CSMS message (here). BKIP allows customs brokers to indicate to the agency that an importer is "known" and was advised of "compliance responsibilities," said CBP. The voluntary program will "create a framework whereby customs brokers could discuss with their importer clients in greater depth the importer’s trade activities in the context of import regulations." The BKIP functionality is already included within the Automated Commercial Environment so "brokers can "transmit a Known Importer indicator when filing an entry on behalf of a Known Importer client," said CBP. The program is the result of a National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America initiative (see 1504220071). While not required for BKIP, the NCBFAA offers a nine-page questionnaire (here) that brokers can go over with their importers in order to begin using the program.

CBP added several new Partner Government Agency Message Set Implementation Guidelines, it said in a CSMS message (here). Among the new agencies "ready for coding" for the Automated Commercial Environment (here) are:

Electronic filing of certificates of compliance could create a host of data entry issues for customs brokers, making the certificate registry approach contemplated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission an “attractive” option, said Amy Magnus, director-customs and compliance at A.N. Deringer, during a meeting between the agency and a CBP Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations working group set up to address certificate filing.

CBP posted the transcript (here) and presentation (here) from an April 29 webinar on Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) air manifests. CBP recently said it would allow for some flexibility in the transition to ACE for air manifest (see 1504300015).

CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related issues:

Importers must report an Employer Identification Number, Social Security Number or CBP-assigned number for Ultimate Consignee identification on entries valued less than $2,500 for Automated Commercial Environment entry summaries, said CBP (here). The Ultimate Consignee's identification number may be reported as all zeroes on informal ACE entry summaries, it said. "Currently, ACE entry summary does not have the ability or fields to allow for reporting of the Ultimate Consignee's name and address" and there are "no changes to reporting requirements for the Ultimate Consignee's identification on informal entries processed in" ACE, it said.

International Trade Today is providing readers with some of the top stories for April 27 - May 1 in case they were missed.

CBP is seeking participants in a new working group to inform its development of the Automated Commercial Environment for data filing related to goods regulated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, said CBP in a CSMS message (here). The working group will focus on the information technology issues associated with implementing ACE, said CBP. The group will "consist of members of the international trade community that import ATF-regulated commodities, software development companies, and representatives from" CBP and ATF, it said.

CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related issues:

CBP "is focused on getting remaining software vendors certified for entry filing" ahead of the Nov. 1 transition date for cargo release and summary filing in the Automated Commercial Environment, said CBP (here). "Filers who are not prepared to file entries/entry summaries in ACE on November 1 could face delays in cargo processing, impacting release of goods at the border since entries/entry summaries not filed in ACE will be filed as paper transactions," the agency said. So far, 36 of 38 software vendors are certified for entry summary and 21 are certified for entry, CBP said.