Given delays caused by sequestration funding cuts, CBP will reiterate to the ports its commitment to giving priority to C-TPAT shipments designated for examination, it said in an update to its FAQ on sequestration. The agency is currently working with its NAFTA partners to manage the flow of traffic at land border crossings, with the aim of continuing to offer front-of-the-line priority for its trusted partners in the face of the backlog created by reduced staffing, it said. But despite sequestration, CBP said implementation of the CEEs is currently on schedule. The agency also still hopes to complete ACE within its originally scheduled timeframe.
C-TPAT said it had completed 22,492 validations by Feb. 1, in a C-TPAT program achievements notice. It said that included 11,775 initial validations completed and 10,717 revalidations completed. By year, there were 640 initial validations and 1,736 revalidations in 2012, and 78 initial validations and 186 revalidations so far this year.
Neither a System of Records Notice (SORN) nor a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on exempting certain information collected through the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) from the Privacy Act is a burden on the public, CBP said in a FAQ publication on the Act (here).
Forthcoming customs reauthorization legislation will force Congress to confront tensions between trade security and trade facilitation, costs and benefits -- including how to implement the International Trade Data System and monitor Automated Commercial Enforcement -- according to a March 22 report on CBP from the Congressional Research Service. Most of the issues for Congress relating to CBP reauthorization stem from the “inherent tension between the commercial interest in trade facilitation and the often competing goals of enforcing trade laws and import security measures,” said the report, which also details the agency’s history and programs.
An EU-U.S. trade agreement should have clear compliance measures and not leave industry arguing with customs officials about the “spirit” of the agreement after it’s finalized, said the American Association of Exporters and Importers. The international trade association, which represents all sectors of the industry, sent a letter requesting time for an oral statement at next month’s U.S.-EU High Level Regulatory Cooperation Forum open meeting (see 13030629).
Transplace Mexico was approved for Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism certification by CBP, said Transplace in a press release. This is the second C-TPAT certification for Transplace, a transportation management services company, it said. A related company, Transplace International, was approved for C-TPAT in 2008, it said.
The planned changes to the 19 CFR Part 111 regulations that govern customs brokers are still several stages away from implementation, said Elena Ryan, acting director of Trade Facilitation and Administration at CBP, who is overseeing the process for the agency. Ryan declined to put a time frame on the expected changes, but said the rulemaking process can sometimes be a multi-year process. While some of the discussed changes are more contentious than others, the update will be part of a single rulemaking, rather than piece by piece changes, she said in an interview.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is proposing to exempt certain information collected through the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) from the Privacy Act, DHS said in a notice of proposed rulemaking. The Privacy Act applies to information that is in a ''system of records,'' and requires approval from an individual to allow for the release of personally identifiable information,. The Privacy Act also allows government agencies to exempt certain records from the access provisions, but requires a notice of proposed rulemaking beforehand.
CBP posted a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) that outline the procedures and benefits of the mutual recognition program between the U.S. and the European Union. The program was recently implemented and is said to allow for better risk analysis through acceptance of the respective trusted trader programs -- Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) in the U.S. and Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) in the E.U. The FAQs say neither C-TPAT nor AEO customs brokers will directly benefit.
CBP released several documents outlining the agency's plans and expectations for operations following the budget cuts that took effect March 1. The agency will allow for operations as usual for Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) and the Air Cargo Advance Screening (ACAS), the agency said. CBP has said it will continue to keep security, including radiation portal monitors, as a top priority during the cuts, but that trade processing could see major delays as a result of CBP furlough and cuts to overtime expenses. A list of CBP's trade priorities following sequestration is (here).