During the introductory remarks at the October 4, 2011 COAC meeting, a statement from a DHS official was read which addressed the status of DHS’ final Global Supply Chain Security Strategy1. According to DHS, the plan is expected to be issued in November 2011; it is currently undergoing review by the Administration and that input from the private sector on its implementation will be solicited after the strategy is sent to the President.
On October 14, 2011, U.S. Customs and Border Protection issued its September-October 2011 ACE Trade Account Owner (TAO) Update. The TAO provides an update on participation in CBP's Simplified Entry pilot, access to DIS and PGA Message Set, ISF Progress Reports, and tips for running the ACE courtesy notice of liquidation report, and a recap of various recent ACE updates.
At the October 4, 2011 COAC meeting, COAC adopted a set of revised recommendations from its Broker Subcommittee on the Role of the Broker project. The final recommendations are largely the same as the draft recommendations that were posted prior to the October 4, 2011 COAC meeting, except they now recommend expanding CBP’s Broker Regulatory Revision Work Group to include other interested parties representing other perspectives and reflect certain revisions to the wording of the recommendations.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials and COAC members discussed COAC's recommendations and CBP's next steps for the agency's Role of the Broker Project at the COAC meeting that was held on October 4 in El Paso, Texas. CBP also discussed its proposals for Simplified Entry, Summary and Financial Processing, including its plans for a Simplified Entry pilot before the end of 2011.
The CBP-NCBFAA "Role of the Broker-Broker Regulatory Revision Workgroup" has updated its proposed options for revising the role of licensed customs brokers and the Part 111 regulations. The Workgroup continues to propose a continuing education requirement to maintain an “active” broker's license1 and that Customs business be conducted within the U.S. Customs Territory. It is also proposing that broker status reports be submitted every six months via the ACE Portal, that a web-based exam application process be implemented, and that a review of the broker penalty regime occur. It is no longer proposing an apprenticeship prerequisite to licensing.
The CBP-Trade "Simplified Entry, Summary & Financial Workgroup" has updated its proposal for simplified trade processes, which will be discussed at the October 4, 2011 COAC meeting. The proposal lists 12 data elements for release under simplified entry, and discusses proposed qualifications for its initial pilot. Also included is more information on the Workgroup's proposal for simplified periodic summary and financial processes.
The Trade Support Network’s Integrated Communications Subcommittee1 issued an overview and held a recent press conference on the TSN plenary held on September 22-23, 2011. During the plenary, CBP discussed a two-part “simplified entry” proposal which includes simplified release (subset of ISF + some additional data) and simplified (periodic) summary.
U.S. Customs and Border Inspection recently posted a revised version of its Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) 101 "Topic" document, which provides a useful general overview of ACE, including the ACE Secure Data Portal, account management capabilities, report capabilities, revenue capabilities, cargo control and release, and entry summary processing. The document also discusses future ACE features.
A Food and Drug Administration official who spoke at the September 2011 annual NCBFAA1 Government Affairs Conference gave an update on the Border Interagency Executive Council's efforts to (i) align participating government agency (PGA) “trusted trader” programs; and (ii) share information and images via the Document Image System (DIS).
At the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America’s Government Affairs Conference on September 19, 2011, representatives from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and NCBFAA’s Customs Committee discussed the “Role of the Broker,” including the possibility of requiring continuing education for all licensed customs brokers and an experience requirement for permit holders. A larger role for brokers in trusted trade programs is also being contemplated, etc.