The National Marine Fisheries Service announced a series of meetings to discuss new import filing and record-keeping requirements under its Seafood Import Monitoring Program (here). The meetings will also cover the program’s provisions and implementation, the related NMFS ACE filing pilot, as well as traceability data and supply chain record-keeping requirements set by the final rule, which was issued in December and begins taking effect in January 2018 (see 1612080014). The first four meetings will be held in: Long Beach, California, on July 13; Seattle on July 18; Elizabeth, New Jersey, on July 20; and Miami on July 25. “Additional public meetings in the U.S. and abroad may be added and will be announced online at least one week in advance of the meeting(s) at www.iuufishing.noaa.gov,” NMFS said.

International Trade Today is providing readers with some of the top stories for June 26-30 in case they were missed.

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

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

CBP released notices about the delay to mandatory use of ACE for drawback and duty deferral entries and entry summaries (here), as well as changes to reconciliation and post-summary corrections and periodic monthly statements (here). All are "delayed until further notice," CBP said. The notices don't include any information about the delay beyond what CBP already announced this week (see 1706270049).

The Federal Communications Commission will consider at its July 13 meeting permanently ending the Form 740 requirements for importing radio frequency devices, the agency said (here). "This requirement has become increasingly outdated and burdensome in light of current importation and marketing practices, the information otherwise collected by CBP itself, and the wealth of information available online," the FCC said. "The Order would also modify Commission rules to clarify the compliance requirements related to imported devices and to provide additional flexibility in certain cases." The FCC order needs approval by the agency and could still be modified. If approved, it would go into effect following publication in the Federal Register.

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

CBP recently updated its Centers of Excellence and Expertise Trade Process Document on responsibilities and procedures for filers, importers and brokers, it said June 28 (here). The updated document reflects the full implementation of the 10 CEEs and regulatory changes that codified the CEEs in a December interim final rule (see 1612190014), as well as changes to electronic filing procedures that have resulted from CBP’s rollout of ACE since the last version of the document was released in 2014. Changes include a statement that the CEEs will provide courtesy copies by mail or email of Requests for Information (CBP Form 28) and Notices of Action (CBP Form 29) to the broker contact listed in the relevant importer’s portal account. The National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America said CBP officials agreed to notify brokers in late April (see 1705150011). The updated document also recommends that, though the trade community may submit prior disclosures to either a port or one of the CEEs, filers should only send the prior disclosure to one location. “CBP has internal procedures to route the prior disclosure to the proper Center team for collaboration, review and action with [Fines, Penalties & Forfeitures]."

CBP is expected to provide additional information soon about the delay to the deployment of post-release capabilities in ACE (see 1706270049), Stuart Schmidt, compliance manager at UPS Supply Chain Solutions, said during a June 27 webinar. "We do not know the new date yet," Schmidt said. "My understanding is that there will be a Federal Register notice that will be published hopefully Friday announcing more information about this." Stuart said the delay is the result of some problems with "false positives" found while testing. "They elected to delay the deployment rather than deploy and install some quick fixes," he said. "So they felt that was the right thing to do and I think I agree with that decision." CBP didn't comment.

CBP's latest delay to the deployment of post-release capabilities in ACE (see 1706270049) again leaves timing unclear for the new requirements. The agency said in a June 27 CSMS message (here) that it would delay plans to deploy drawback, reconciliation and duty deferral entries and entry summaries on July 8. CBP decided on the delay after it found "areas specific to collections that are in need of further testing before these capabilities can be deployed." CBP is working on a new schedule and will again provide 30-days' notice before deploying the capabilities, it said.