On March 15, 2005, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Robert Bonner testified before the House Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on Homeland Security regarding CBP's fiscal year (FY) 2006 budget request.
The Journal of Commerce reports that a concept paper on "trusted accounts," which would take the idea of a Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) to the next level, was circulated at the January 2005 Trade Support Network (TSN) meeting. Under this new concept, a company would not only exercise the very best supply-chain security, but would also have the highest standards for compliance with trade laws and regulations. In return, CBP would offer 'trusted accounts" the greatest benefits. (JoC, dated 02/28/05, www.joc.com.)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued its Fiscal Year (FY) 2004 Year End Import Trade Trends Report, which covers October 2003 - September 2004.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site a new set of frequently asked questions and answers (FAQs) regarding the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) and air freight consolidators, ocean transportation intermediaries (OTIs), brokers, and non-vessel operating common carriers (NVOCCs).
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued its final draft, dated February 11, 2005, of CBP's draft new C-TPAT Security Standards for Importers, which is available for distribution to subscribers.
On February 18, 2005, President Bush announced his intention to designate Peter Allgeier to be Acting U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). According to the State Department's Washington File, Ambassador Allgeier will serve in place of outgoing USTR Robert Zoellick, who has been nominated as deputy Secretary of State. Washington File reports that Allgeier currently serves as deputy USTR. (White House announcement, dated 02/18/05, available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/02/20050218-15.html; Washington File article, dated 02/18/05, available at http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2005&m=February&x=20050218180207ESnamfuaK0.8694422&t=ei/ei-latest.html)
On February 15, 2005, Judge Michael Chertoff was sworn in as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) after being confirmed by the Senate. Chertoff formerly served as U.S. Circuit Judge for the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. (DHS press release available at http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/interapp/biography/biography_0116.xml.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has presented its final version of is new Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) security standards for importers to the Departmental Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of Customs and Border Protection and Related Functions (COAC). During the February 15, 2005 COAC meeting, CBP officials noted that they will also be issuing frequently asked questions (FAQs) and responses regarding the revised C-TPAT security standards. (See ITT's Online Archives or 01/13/05 news, 05011305, for BP summary of Draft 3 of CBP's new C-TPAT security standards for importers.)
On February 7, 2005, President Bush transmitted to Congress his fiscal year (FY) 2006 budget. (FY 2006 is from October 1, 2005 through September 30, 2006.)
On February 1, 2005, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Robert Bonner addressed the Trade Support Network (TSN). The following are highlights of Commissioner Bonner's remarks to the TSN, which focused primarily on Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT):