Both sides are claiming progress during the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED) this week in Beijing. Among other things, they decided to continue to implement the Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China Concerning Bilateral Cooperation on Supply Chain Security and Facilitation and the Action Plan, according to the official joint statement issued by the two countries after the meeting.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection offered some clarifications on the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) International Organization for Standardization (ISO) seal standard for truckers, in a set of Frequently Asked Questions. The FAQs describe the continued use for seal standard ISO/PAS 17712. A new seal standard for containers was previously planned to be implemented by March 1, 2012, but CBP said in February an indeterminate delay was necessary for testing.
The next meeting of the Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of Customs and Border Protection (COAC) will be on May 22, 2012 at 1 p.m. (EST) in Savannah, Ga. U.S. Customs and Border Protection is seeking comment on the planned agenda items, according to a notice in the Federal Register May 4, 2012. Online registration for webcast and in-person attendance at the COAC meeting is open through May 18, 2012.
The U.S. and Japan will cooperate more closely to strengthen the security and resiliency of the global supply chain and promote the timely, efficient flow of legitimate commerce, according to a White House fact sheet on U.S.-Japan Cooperative Initiatives issued along with a joint statement after President Obama met with Japanese Prime Minister Noda.
HOLLYWOOD, Fla. -- Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Director of Import Operations Domenic Veneziano went into detail in describing the plans for the voluntary qualified importer program (VQIP) while speaking at the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America April 25, 2012. The plans are still in development, said Veneziano. The VQIP was required as part of the Food Safety Modernization Act.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection issued the following releases on commercial trade and related issues:
U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Area Port of Buffalo will hold its first “Trade Day” on Thursday, May 3, 2012. The event will provide an opportunity for members of the trade community to meet with CBP and other government officials responsible for facilitating the importation of their goods. The Trade Day activities will be at U.S. Customs and Border Protection Port Office, 726 Exchange St., Suite 400, Buffalo, NY, from 10 am to 1 pm. The event is free, but on-line registration is required.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection and TSA have released their Air Cargo Advance Screening (ACAS) Pilot Strategic Plan. ACAS allows CBP and TSA to receive advance security filing cargo data as a means to target cargo shipments inbound to the United States that may be high risk and require additional physical screening under the appropriate regulatory framework and protocols. According to CBP, ACAS will allow express carriers, passenger air carriers, freight forwarders, and all-cargo air carriers to send and receive security filing data through CBP's Automated Targeting System (ATS).
Officials from Customs and Border Protection and Canada Border Services Agency reiterated the details of the "Beyond the Border" action plan during townhall meetings in Niagara, NY and Toronto on February 28-29, 2012. The presentations describe specific actions and 2012-2014 target dates to achieve goals such as: (i) common data elements for advance cargo screening; (ii) mutual recognition of air cargo security programs for passenger aircraft; (iii) attempted alignment of Canada’s Customs Self Assessment (CSA) and the U.S. Importer Self Assessment (ISA) programs; (iv) assessment on ways to move wood packaging material inspections away from the border; etc.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted a presentation that gives an overview of the Importer Self-Assessment Program. The overview describes the program and its vision; the requirements for participation and benefits; the application process; the need for a risk-based approach, internal controls and best practices. The presentation also gives the percent of ISA members by industry, and the value percentage of ISA shipments