MIAMI -- There's no indication that importers and brokers will not be prepared for the rapidly approaching Automated Commercial Environment deadlines, said CBP Commissioner Gil Kerlikowske in a sit-down interview with International Trade Today on Feb. 24 at the International Chamber of Commerce and U.S. Council for International Business symposium. Kerlikowske said he expects only a “tiny” percentage of traders and brokers will not be ready for the required use of ACE. As of May 1, CBP will require ACE for all electronic manifest filings, while all electronic cargo release and entry summary filings will be required in ACE as of Nov. 1.
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related issues:
MIAMI -- The U.S. is aiming to get two-thirds of World Trade Organization members to ratify the Trade Facilitation Agreement and put the pact's implementation into force by December, said Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for the WTO Mark Linscott at the International Chamber of Commerce and U.S. Council for International Business trade facilitation symposium on Feb. 23. The plan to reach that goal focuses on private sector influence on WTO members and diplomatic pressure through the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the G20 and other international forums, said Linscott.
The coming transition to the Automated Commercial Environment may prove difficult for all involved, CBP Commissioner Gil Kerlikowske said in a letter of appreciation to the trade industry released by the agency (here). CBP is making "important progress" as the first of three ACE-related deadlines approaches, he said in the Jan. 29 letter (here). As of May 1, CBP will require ACE for all electronic manifest filing. "We recognize ACE is driving changes to business practices and requires major investment on your part," he said in the letter. "The next year will be challenging for industry and government, as we fully transition to ACE." Kerlikowske encouraged companies not yet using ACE to make the transition "immediately" in order to be prepared for required use of ACE. The agency will require ACE for all electronic cargo released and entry summary filing beginning Nov. 1. Agency officials recently discussed some of the operational challenges related to the transition (see 1502100055).
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related issues:
A furniture importer is currently pursuing two federal court cases related to the assessment of antidumping duties on an entry where it was incorrectly listed as importer of record, International Trade Today has learned. Following a CBP ruling that held it liable for payment of the 216.01% duty applicable under the AD duty order on wooden bedroom furniture from China (see 1501290028), Lifestyle Furniture filed suit in November at the Court of International Trade to challenge CBP’s denial of its protest. Just under a month later, Lifestyle sued the customs broker that apparently made the mistake on entry documentation, Nestor Reyes, in North Carolina Middle U.S. District Court.
Expeditors and CBP will work together on a number of coming roundtables to discuss preparation for the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE), said Expeditors in a press release (here). CBP will hold a number of such roundtables around the country ahead of the Nov. 1 deadline for required use of ACE for entry summary and cargo release information.
CBP is requesting comments by March 20 on an existing information collection for applications to use the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE). CBP proposes (here) to extend the expiration date of this information collection with a change to the burden hours.
International Trade Today is providing readers with some of the top stories for Feb. 9-13 in case they were missed.
The Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations (COAC) presented a litany of recommendations related to export licensing, at the committee’s Feb. 11 meeting in San Francisco. Many of the recommendations were related to alignment of license requirements and enforcement across ports and agencies. Highlights of the recommendations from COAC are as follows: