On March 13, 2007, the Senate amended and passed S. 4, the "Improving America's Security by Implementing Unfinished Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007," by a vote of 60-38.
On March 27, 2007, U.S. Customs and Border Protection posted a procurement notice on the Federal Business Opportunities Web site announcing that a Customs - Trade Partnership Against Terrorism "Third Party" Validation pilot will begin in China on approximately May 1, 2007. The pilot will be active for up to twelve months, until approximately May 1, 2008.
The Journal of Commerce reports that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is developing procedures that will give Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) members an additional benefit designed to reduce container demurrage. According to the article, CBP would only require container(s) targeted for exam to be held at the ocean terminal for trusted C-TPAT importers (instead of all containers listed on the entry). The article states that the remaining containers would be allowed to be removed from the terminal, reducing demurrage fees. (JoC, dated 04/12/07, www.joc.com)
In December 2006, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued its minimum-security criteria for Customs brokers already enrolled in the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) program and those Customs brokers wishing to join. At the time, CBP also issued its implementation plan for the new criteria.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site an updated version of its document entitled "User Fee Decals and Transponders" which reflects CBP's April 1, 2007 increase to certain User Fees.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has recently posted to its Web site its quarterly reports on the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) entitled Report to Congress on the Automated Commercial Environment. These reports cover the four quarters of calendar year 2006.
On February 27, 2007, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Ralph Basham testified before the House Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on Homeland Security regarding CBP's fiscal year (FY) 2008 budget request.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted a notice to its Web site announcing that it has extended until May 2, 2007 (from March 31, 2007) the deadline for "existing" Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) customs brokers to comply with the C-TPAT minimum security criteria for customs brokers.
In December 2006, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued its minimum security criteria for customs brokers already enrolled in the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) program, or for those wishing to join this voluntary supply chain security program. At that time, CBP also issued its implementation plan for the new C-TPAT minimum security criteria for customs brokers.
The Journal of Commerce reports that Michael Laden, former executive with Target Corp., says C-TPAT has not delivered on its promise of expedited trade, as the three benefit tiers do not have bright lines of distinction among them. According to Laden, at the end of the day, there isn't a lot of benefit in joining. (JoC, 01/22/07, www.joc.com )