U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted a memo providing proration and liquidation instructions for the 2008 in-quota (low duty) tariff-rate quota quantity for tuna and skipjack (tuna), in airtight containers, not in oil, weighing with their contents not over 7 kilograms each, that is not the product of any U.S. insular possession.
During the February 13, 2008 meeting of the Departmental Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Related Homeland Security Functions (COAC)1, CBP officials discussed, among other things, the status of the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) third party validation pilot in China and joint U.S.-China C-TPAT validations.
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has announced its goal of introducing a modernized Partners in Protection (PIP) program by June 30, 2008. The modernized program will require members to adhere to stricter, better-defined and targeted security measures to strengthen border and supply chain security.
During the February 13, 2008 meeting of the Departmental Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Related Homeland Security Functions (COAC)1, CBP officials discussed, among other things, the progress that has been made toward achieving mutual recognition between CBP's Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism and other countries' supply chain security programs.
During the February 13, 2008 meeting of the Departmental Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Related Homeland Security Functions (COAC)1, CBP officials discussed, among things, the proposed rule to amend 19 CFR to require Security Filing (SF) information from importers and additional information from carriers (10+2) for vessel (maritime) cargo before it is brought into the U.S.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a news release announcing that beginning April 1, 2008, new applicants for the southern border Free and Secure Trade Commercial Driver Program will be permitted to enroll online via CBP's Web site.
The New York Times reports that in a confidential but confirmed decision, the World Trade Organization has again ruled against the European Union's import tariffs for bananas, possibly opening the door to U.S. commercial sanctions. The EU can still appeal in this long running WTO dispute in which Latin American countries and the U.S. have challenged the EU's preferential conditions for producers from African and Caribbean countries. (New York Times, dated 02/08/08, available at http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2008/02/09/business/news/38_12_122_8_08.prt)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted its agenda for the 2008 Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism Supply Chain Security Training Seminar for C-TPAT members that will be held February 26th through February 29th in New Orleans, Louisiana.
The Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General has issued a report on the major management challenges facing DHS. The OIG states that while DHS has made progress creating the third largest Cabinet agency with multiple missions, it still has much to do to establish a cohesive, efficient, and effective organization.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a press release providing a 2007 "year in review" for the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) program.