CBP will soon add Advanced Qualified Unlading Approval (AQUA) Lane privileges at CBP Port Everglades in Florida, said the port in an information bulletin. After Dec. 13, "requests to start cargo processing will only be granted through AQUA Lane," it said. The program is meant to allow for expedited vessel entrance for sea carriers that are Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) certified, said CBP. Vessel agents must submit CBP Form 3171 with the Notice of Arrival to request AQUA Lange privileges and CBP will respond with a decision by email, said the port. "AQUA Lane, a joint partnership between CBP/C-TPAT, sea carriers and world trade associations will benefit all partners, as it will enhance CBP's utilization of resources and facilitate increased partnership in securing the overall supply chain," it said.
International Trade Today is providing readers with some of the top stories for Nov. 2-6 in case they were missed.
BALTIMORE -- CBP is pressing the countries that have signed customs mutual recognition agreements (MRAs) with the U.S. to keep up their end of the bargain by providing agreed-upon benefits to members of the Customs-Trade Partnership against Terrorism, said Todd Owen, assistant commissioner of CBP’s Office of Field Operations. So far, the 10 countries that have currently signed MRAs are not delivering on their guarantees, so CBP is meeting with their customs agencies on a “senior level” to “reopen dialogue on promises that were made,” said Owen, speaking during CBP’s East Coast Trade Symposium on Nov. 4.
Funding shortfalls are hampering CBP’s ability to ensure nuclear and radiological material doesn’t enter U.S. territory, said a representative of the American Association of Port Authorities in testimony to the House Transportation and Infrastructure subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation on Oct. 27 (here). Port authorities across the country are criticizing the CBP’s failure to effectively update radiation port monitors (RPMs) at U.S. ports, said Joseph Lawless, director of maritime security at the Massachusetts Port Authority.
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. -- CBP hopes to eventually create a top tier of "Trusted Traders" that will help participants deal with foreign governments as well as other U.S. agencies at the border, said CBP's Cheryl Bryce, acting director of Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT), who spoke during the Western Cargo Conference on Oct. 16. "I don't know how long this will take," but that "elite" group should see expedited trade with countries that are part of Mutual Recognition Arrangements with the U.S, she said. CBP is now testing a new "Trusted Trader" program that combines the C-TPAT supply chain security program with the Importer Self Assessment (ISA) import compliance program (see 14061320).
The Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations (COAC) for CBP will next meet Oct. 29 in Washington, CBP said in a notice (here).
CBP will consider additional public comments submitted by Sept. 30 on information collections for applications to the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) program and the new Trusted Trader program. CBP proposes (here) to revise the information collection to include requirements for the Trusted Trader program, it said. CBP said it added a notification letter and changed some of its estimates included in the previous request for comments (see 1503060017). A draft of the application is (here).
The Food and Drug Administration should allow for distinctions between major and minor mistakes within the filer/customs broker evaluation when considering Voluntary Qualified Importer Program eligibility, said the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America. The FDA should also improve its data collection and create an agency rulings system before the VQIP is implemented, said the NCBFAA in comments to the agency on VQIP (here). Other commenters (here) included the American Association of Exporters and Importers (here), the Grocery Manufacturers Association (here) and the European Union (here).
Bradd Skinner will be the new assistant director-field operations for trade at CBP Laredo, said CBP in an Aug. 20 press release (here). Skinner replaces Nancy Becker, who retired from the position in January (see 1501050010). Skinner formerly led CBP’s Customs-Trade Against Partnership (C-TPAT) program for five years, among other roles at the agency.
International Trade Today is providing readers with some of the top stories for Aug. 10-14 in case they were missed.