CBP won't be able to implement the first group of Section 301 tariff exclusions until the impasse over government funding is resolved, the agency said in CSMS message. While the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative issued a notice on the exclusions (see 1812240010), CBP is unable to update ACE to reflect the exclusions, CBP said. "At the conclusion of the government funding hiatus, CBP will issue instructions on entry guidance and implementation," the agency said.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration seeks comments on its information collection on certifications of admissibility required at the time of entry for certain fish and fish products. Transmitted via ACE, the certifications are used to import fish and fish products that are not subject to import bans from countries where bans on other fish and fish products are in effect. The certifications are currently required for imports of certain fish and fish products from Mexico (see 1808270014). Comments are due Feb. 25, 2019.

International Trade Today is providing readers with some of the top stories for Dec. 17-21 in case they were missed.

CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:​

CBP posted a draft version of its updated Form 5106 (Create/Update Importer Identity Form) that was approved by the Office of Management and Budget, CBP said on the agency website. Revising Form 5106 has been an ongoing effort since 2014 (see 14100815) and has faced industry concerns that new data fields are too onerous (see 1507240009). CBP recently set a concrete deployment date of Feb. 9 for its upcoming ACE Form 5106 input process (see 1811130052). The automation will allow the collection of more detailed importer information, and provide for more streamlined processing by giving filers the ability to create, edit and update importer information via ACE, CBP has said. It will also allow CBP to support implementation of the importer of record database required by Section 114 of the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act.

Lawmakers were unable to reach a federal government funding deal on Dec. 21, resulting in a shutdown that began at 12:01 a.m. on Dec. 22 and has no clear end in sight. CBP held a conference call on Dec. 21 with members of the trade to discuss the agency's operations during a shutdown, according to the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America. CBP will have conference calls during the shutdown and is preparing a CSMS message to detail its plans, the NCBFAA said.

CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:​

CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:​

CBP is opening public discussions "to address and enhance numerous aspects of CBP’s trade mission to better position CBP to operate in the 21st century trade environment," the agency said in a notice. CBP will hold an all-day meeting on March 1, 2019, to discuss themes identified by the agency as particularly important, it said. Those themes are: Emerging Roles in the Global Supply Chain, Intelligent Enforcement, Cutting-Edge Technology, Data Access and Sharing, 21st Century Processes, and Self-Funded Customs Infrastructure.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative's notice officially delaying a planned tariff increase on goods from China is set for publication in the Federal Register on Dec. 19. Publication is a necessary step for CBP to implement the delay in ACE (see 1812140046). The third tranche of Section 301 tariffs will now go up to 25 percent from 10 percent on March 2, 2019, unless further progress is made in talks with China (see 1812010001).