CBP is requesting comments by July 22 for an existing information collection for the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) program. CBP proposes to extend the expiration date of this information collection with a change to the burden hours.
CBP is planning to initiate a pilot program that consolidates its Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) and Importer Self Assessment (ISA) trusted trader programs by September, said an update on trusted trader programs released ahead of the May 22 Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of CBP (COAC). CBP has said its plans for the combined trusted trader programs would allow for a single validation and management approach (see 12120321). The executive summary is (here).
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CBP offered advice to members of the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) program on how to handle reports of suspicious activities, anomalies, and security breaches. C-TPAT members should report such issues prior to CBP discovery to avoid possible suspension, it said. "Reporting a breach would result in an immediate joint review of the totality of circumstances," it said.
The forced budget cuts of sequestration won't directly affect CBP's numerous pilot programs that are part of its "Trade Transformation" initiative, said Maria Luisa O’Connell, CBP's Senior Advisor for Trade, while speaking on a panel at an American Bar Association conference April 25. Many of the effects of sequestration, including the need for furloughs, remain unclear and the agency is waiting to hear from the White House for further guidance, she said. CBP expects to know more within the month, she said. Agency trade transformation pilots include its Document Image System, the Centers for Excellence and Expertise (CEEs), and Simplified Entry.
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CBP's intent to establish a new system of records (SORS) for data filed as part of the Customs—Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) program is causing alarm among some trade groups due to the potential release of proprietary information. Several recent filings with the agency responding to the notice establishing the SORS and a related proposed rulemaking (see 13031225) indicate concern with the idea and the speed at which the regulatory process is moving forward.
RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. -- A new National Customs Broker and Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA) program would make use of the knowledge and relationship brokers' have with their clients by creating a list of importers that brokers have gathered some baseline information on. The program, known as the "Broker Known Importer Program," was described at the NCBFAA conference April 10. The concept is part of CBP's "Role of the Broker" initiative and isn't expected to require major regulatory changes.
About 94.5 percent of C-TPAT members complied with C-TPAT security guidelines during 2012, somewhat below the 100 percent goal, according to the CBP's annual fiscal year 2012 performance report released by CBP. The results also were below the 95.1 percent in 2011. The report also said 100 percent of inbound high-risk cargo was screened and its entry was resolved prior to or during processing at the U.S. port of entry. It said 98 percent of requested cargo examinations were done at foreign ports of origin in cooperation with host nations under CSI, below the 100 percent goal, but better than the 96 percent in 2011. Other findings:
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