The incoming Trump administration could mean more funding and a greater enforcement focus for CBP, but the prospect of stricter trade enforcement could complicate day-to-day operations, analysts said in recent interviews. The presidential transition will cost the trade community mainly in terms of immediate uncertainty within industry and between the U.S. and its trading partners, as well as any regulatory “adjustments” that CBP might make, said David Aguilar, former CBP acting commissioner and current principal at Global Security and Innovative Strategies. But CBP’s trade funding and basic structures like the Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee will likely remain intact, he said.
The World Customs Organization issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:
International Trade Today is providing readers with some of the top stories for Nov. 28 - Dec. 2 in case they were missed.
Trade industry representatives suggested to Fish and Wildlife Service officials during a recent meeting that it use a trusted trader program to help reduce some ACE data reporting requirements that are set to expand in 2017 (see 1611140019). Trade leaders met with the FWS officials during the East Coast Trade Symposium, according to an email from the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America. Several trade groups recently wrote a letter to FWS about the added data requirements (see 1611210004). During the meeting, "numerous proposals surfaced -- including a trusted trader concept that allowed companies to be vetted in advance," the NCBFAA said. William Woody, chief of the FWS Office of Law Enforcement "promised to address the issues raised and requested examples from the trade of where data would be required for regulated components of minimal value," the trade group said. Also discussed was the end to the Designated Port Exception Permit program, which allowed for FWS-regulated goods to enter at ports with no FWS staff present. "Woody acknowledged the consternation of ports such as Savannah and promised to work to resolve the budgetary and other issues that prompted the proposal," according to the NCBFAA. The meeting was led by Jon Gold, vice president of supply chain and customs for the National Retail Federation, and Woody, the NCBFAA said.
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:
CBP is unlikely to make new adverse inferences about companies that are unaware of antidumping or countervailing duty evasion allegations and don't respond to information requests, said Carrie Owens, acting CBP director of operations for Enforce and Protect Act and E-Allegations. Owens discussed the EAPA procedures and the use of adverse inference (see 1608190014) during a panel at the East Coast Trade Symposium on Dec. 2. "If a party is not aware it is being requested information pursuant to an EAPA investigation, my personal view is I'm unsure how we would then apply an adverse inference to that," she said. That includes responsiveness to Customs Form 28 that CBP may issue as part of the investigation, Owens said.
All drawback claims must be filed in ACE beginning on Jan. 14, 2017, CBP said in an update to its frequently asked questions on ACE drawback (here). “Yes, all types of drawback claims must be submitted in ACE starting on Saturday January 14, 2017,” CBP said, answering a question on whether manufacturing drawback claims must be submitted on that date. Open Automated Commercial System drawback claims submitted shortly before the transition will be migrated to ACE, it said in another recently added answer. CBP is also looking to move its other post-release capabilities into ACE in mid-January, a CBP spokeswoman said, without giving a firm date. "CBP is targeting mid-January for the deployment and mandatory transition of the remaining post-release capabilities, including drawback, reconciliation, liquidation, duty deferral, collections and statements. The precise date of deployment/mandatory transition is dependent on the publication of the liquidation Final Rule," she said. "CBP will issue additional guidance on the precise date of deployment/mandatory transition in the near future."
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:
CBP expanded its test of automation and prepayment of commercial truck single-crossing fees as part of an effort to eliminate cash and credit card collections, the agency said in a news release (here). Previously only at the Buffalo, Detroit and El Paso ports (see 1605020013), the program will now be available at all commercial land border crossings, it said. “Providing the trucking industry with an online payment option will ultimately decrease wait times and allow CBP officers to focus more closely on enforcement issues,” said Executive Assistant Commissioner, Office of Field Operations Todd Owen.