International Trade Today is providing readers with some of the top stories from July 13-17 in case they were missed.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published its spring 2020 regulatory agenda for CBP. Among the few trade-related changes to the agenda from the fall (see 1911220038) is the return of continuing education requirements for customs brokers. The possible regulatory action was previously listed on CBP's agenda but relegated in recent years to the agency's list of "Long-Term Actions."
CBP would like to add a forced labor component to the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT) program's trade compliance requirements by the end of this fiscal year, CTPAT Director Manuel Garza said in a government issue paper released ahead of the July 15 Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee meeting. The fiscal year ends Sept. 30. There's been discussion about adding such a component for a long time (see 1907250029), but CBP hadn't previously provided firm timing plans.
The Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee (COAC) for CBP will next meet July 15, remotely, beginning at 1 p.m., CBP said in a notice. Comments are due in writing by July 14.
International Trade Today is providing readers with some of the top stories for May 4-8 in case they were missed.
CBP has stopped its validations of the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism program due to the COVID-19 pandemic, CTPAT Director Manuel Garza said in a May 1 post on the CBP website. “While 2020 validations have currently ceased due to COVID-19, CTPAT is working diligently to explore alternative options that will ensure the continuity and security of the validation process,” Garza said. CBP recently said it wouldn't be delaying dates around implementation of the updated Minimum Security Criteria, but it will allow for more discretion in the validations (see 2004160022).
International Trade Today is providing readers with some of the top stories for April 13-17 in case they were missed.
CBP should update its regulations on prior disclosures to clarify the requirements and benefits of prior disclosures of forced labor violations, the Commercial Customs Operation Advisory Committee said in recommendations adopted at the April 15 COAC meeting. Regulations on forced labor should also be amended, and guidance documents issued, to clarify what should be included in a forced labor allegation, as well as how CBP should inquire about potential violations and how importers should respond, the COAC said.
CBP won't be delaying dates around implementation of the updated Minimum Security Criteria for the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism program, but it will allow for more discretion in the validations, said Thomas Overacker, CBP executive director, Cargo and Conveyance Security. Overacker addressed concerns about the requirements during the April 15 Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee (COAC) meeting.
As this year’s deadline for applications for the Voluntary Qualified importer Program approaches, formal interest in the Food and Drug Administration’s trusted trader scheme for food importers is nearly non-existent, despite high hopes from the agency when it was announced several years ago. Unclear benefits, a high cost of participation and a multitude of barriers to entry are among several issues keeping importers away, experts on importing food say.