U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has recently posted to its Web site its quarterly report on the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) entitled Report to Congress: the Automated Commercial Environment. This report is dated March 31, 2004 and covers the period from January 1, 2004 through March 31, 2004.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a notice announcing that the next meeting of the Departmental Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection and Related Functions (COAC) will be held on September 10, 2004 in Buffalo, NY. (This committee was previously called the "Treasury Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of the U.S. Customs Service.")

American Shipper reports that to cover the extra risk associated with the deferred payment of customs duties under the new periodic payment system, surety companies are raising the premiums on performance bonds used by importers and their brokers to guarantee duties will be paid to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The article notes one surety's view that for a typical importer that imports on a fairly regular schedule, they are looking at five times the credit risk for the same series of transactions. (American Shipper, August 2004)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a notice informing truck carriers of the compliance dates for transmitting advance electronic information to CBP for cargo they are bringing into the U.S., as mandated by the Trade Act of 2002 and a December 5, 2003 final rule.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site certain updated Trade Support Network (TSN) committee Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) user requirement recommendations and CBP ACE Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) message drafts.

On July 14, 2004, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 4418, the Customs Border Security and Trade Agencies Authorization Act of 2004.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site various materials related to the June 28- July 1, 2004 meeting of the Trade Support Network (TSN).

During the Trade Support Network (TSN) Conference on July 1, 2004, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Bonner addressed a variety of issues, including expected delays in completing the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) and recent events at the World Customs Organization (WCO) regarding supply chain security. Highlights of Commissioner Bonner's remarks are provided below:

The Departmental Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (COAC) held a quarterly meeting on June 18, 2004 in Washington, DC to discuss and receive updates from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials on various trade and customs issues.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site the Spring 2004 issue of its "ACE Modernization Monitor" newsletter.