U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a January 28, 2005 (5th) version of its Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) and responses regarding the mandatory advance electronic cargo information requirements for truck carriers.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued an administrative message containing the prorations for the three 2004 textile and apparel quotas, subject to the first staged entry period for overshipments, that closed at "opening moment" on February 1, 2005.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site a guidance document for the Pilot Bond Centralization Program entitled "Latest News and Developments."
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a general notice announcing that, effective immediately, applicants seeking to establish importer or broker accounts so as to access the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Secure Data Portal (ACE Portal) or to participate in any ACE test, are no longer required to provide a statement certifying participation in the Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT).
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a press release announcing that it is postponing the enforcement of the Free And Secure Trade (FAST) Card requirement for Border Release Advance Screening and Selectivity (BRASS) shipment drivers until May 1, 2005 for the first group of 40 ports.
According to a U.S. Association of Importers of Textiles and Apparel (USA-ITA) Textile Development Memo, on January 27, 2005, the government filed with the CIT a motion for a stay (halt) of its preliminary injunction (which is preventing CITA from taking further action on threat-based China safeguard petitions), pending consideration by the CAFC of the government's appeal of the injunction. (USA-ITA TDM, dated 01/28/05, www.usa-ita.com )
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of the Treasury (Treasury) have announced appointments to the Departmental Advisory Committee on the Commercial Operations of Customs and Border Protection and Related Functions (COAC).
In an article about the recent shutdown of the ACE Release 4 Truck Manifest pilot in Blaine, WA, The Journal of Commerce reports that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is optimistic that the shutdown is "temporary" (i.e., weeks, not months) and that programmers are already at work fixing the problems. (See ITT's Online Archives or 01/05/05 news, 05010505, for BP summary on the shutdown.)
According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) sources, the recent amendment to 19 USC 1505(a) providing 12 working days to deposit estimated duties (from 10 working days), is a "technical amendment" and does not affect the actual time line for the deposit of estimated duties.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a memorandum stating that CBP is revising its procedures, effective immediately, for Pre-Arrival Processing System (PAPS) entries in order to reduce the work load for Customs brokers and CBP Officers.