On July 21, 2011, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano met with New Zealand Prime Minister Key to highlight the strategic partnership between the two countries to strengthen aviation security, protect critical cyber networks and infrastructure, and make the global supply chain system stronger, smarter and more resilient through programs such as the Secure Supply Chain Initiative. Napolitano stated that the U.S. will continue to work closely with New Zealand and other international partners to strengthen international screening standards and develop and deploy critical technologies to better track and detect illicit goods. (See ITT's Online Archives or 05/18/11 news, 11051819, for BP summary of U.S. and New Zealand signing a Joint Statement on Supply Chain Security. See ITT's Online Archives or 03/30/11 news, 11033016, for BP summary of U.S. and New Zealand expanding their C-TPAT mutual recognition agreement (MRA).)
At a July 12, 2011 House Subcommittee hearing, several associations testified on issues related to authorization of the Transportation Security Administration for fiscal year (FY) 2012-2013. Trucking industry representatives shared concerns about security rule overregulation, redundancies, and the TWIC reader, while those in the air cargo transport industry sought funding to improve the screening of consolidated shipments and for low tech solutions such as canine inspections. They also expressed support for expanding CBP's air cargo pre-departure pilot to others.1
Broker Power is providing readers with some of the top stories for July 11 - 15, 2011 in case they were missed last week.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has announced that new capabilities were deployed via the Automated Commercial Environment with respect to Importer Security Filing (ISF). These new capabilities include (i) importer access through ACE to the ISF progress reports that have to date only been available via email subscription and (ii) making ISF progress reports, previously available only to importers, now also available via ACE to ISF filers and sureties. In addition, importers who file 12 or fewer ISF transactions per year will now be able to file and track their ISF transactions directly via the ACE portal, without the need to file via the Electronic Data Interchange (EDI).
On July 8, 2011, U.S. Customs and Border Protection posted its latest edition of Frontline (Vol. 4, Issue 2), CBP's quarterly magazine on border security. Among other things, the magazine highlights CBP's recent actions towards expanding C-TPAT mutual recognition; arranging trusted traveler programs; moving to an account-based approach to security; and on leveraging the role of the broker.
Broker Power is providing readers with some of the top stories for June 27 -- July 1, 2011 in case they were missed last week.
Broker Power is providing readers with some of the top stories for June 20 - 24, 2011 in case they were missed last week.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued revised information regarding the mutual recognition1 of Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) program and foreign industry partner programs, to provide an update on CBP's pending mutual recognition arrangement (MRA) with the European Union, Mexico's pilot for a mutual recognition program, and CBP's MRA with the Korean Customs Service.
On June 23, 2011, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano signed a joint statement with several European Union Commissioners on global supply chain security cooperation, which identifies several areas for possible joint action, including common practices for high risk cargo, mutual recognition of customs controls, etc.
On June 21, 2011, the European Union Commissioner for Taxation and Customs Union, Algirdas Šemeta, spoke to the American Chamber of Commerce, where he discussed EU-U.S. customs-related issues, including trade partnership programs, supply chain security, and customs enforcement of intellectual property rights.