CBP will open the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism to exporters on May 17, said the agency in a recent CSMS message (here). Potential benefits for will include prioritized export shipments; global security partnerships; heightened facilitation from mutually recognized customs partners; access to C-TPAT sponsored security seminars; and reduced examinations, it said. Joining the program is free, and C-TPAT supply chain security specialists “are ready to assist” exporters in “securing the supply chain while remaining productive,” said CBP.
CBP plans to deploy the second phase of the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) on May 16, the agency said (here). "This deployment will restructure the security profile function into individual line items," it said. "To prevent potential applicants from having to conduct redundant work by completing the security profile twice, once in the current format and a second time immediately after May 16th in the new format, C-TPAT will not be accepting new applications after April 15, 2015, until Phase II deploys." As part of the second phase, "it will also be possible to merge multiple C-TPAT accounts into a single Security Model, if accounts are managed under the same trade account and follow the same security policies and procedures," said CBP in its C-TPAT 2.0 user manual (see 1411180013).
ORLANDO, Fla. -- CBP and the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America are set to launch the Broker Known Importer Program (BKIP) in the coming week, said agency and trade association leadership at the NCBFAA annual conference on Aug. 22. With functionality in the Automated Commercial Environment in place since January, CBP will issue a CSMS message next week detailing the voluntary program, which will lower the agency’s risk profile for an importer if their broker informs CBP through a flag checked at entry that it “knows” the importer and has advised the importer of its compliance responsibilities. The CSMS message will allow BKIP to “go live,” said Mary Jo Muoio of OHL Trade Services.
The Food and Drug Administration now hopes to begin its Voluntary Qualified Importer Program in 2017, according to an agency spokeswoman. The trusted trader program for food importers is held up until FDA creates its system of third-party accreditation bodies, because a condition of VQIP participation will be importing from foreign facilities that have been certified under the third-party accreditation system, she said. FDA is under court order to publish its final rule on third-party accreditation by Oct. 31, 2015 (see 14022124).
A new Consumer Product Safety Commission trusted trader program could be in the offing as the agency moves cautiously toward electronic filing of certificates of compliance, said CPSC Commissioner Joseph Mohorovic during a March 19 meeting with the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America. However, any CPSC trusted trader program must overcome the familiar hurdle of providing enough benefits to importers, said NCBFAA representatives at the meeting.
Indonesia recently began an Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) program, said the World Customs Organization (here). Such programs, which are similar to the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism program in the U.S., allow for mutual recognition with outside governments, said WCO Secretary General Kunio Mikuriya at the March 17 certification ceremony.
CBP is requesting comments by May 8 on information collections for applications to the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) program and the new Trusted Trader program. CBP proposes (here) to revise the information collection to include requirements for the Trusted Trader program, it said.
A Department of Homeland Security funding lapse will not stop "front line cargo operations" and import and entry specialists will continue to review entries during that time, said CBP Commissioner Gil Kerlikowske. Kerlikowske discussed the looming shutdown, a result of a fight over DHS funding in congress, with members of the trade industry and reporters in a Feb. 26 call. Despite going without a paycheck during the shutdown, CBP personnel will also be available to answer questions for importers and brokers, he said. DHS funding will stop Feb. 28 unless congress allocates more funding before then.
CBP posted information (here) on the agency's Trusted Trader pilot program that combines the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism supply chain security program with the Importer Self Assessment (ISA) import compliance program (see 14101019). The agency also posted a Trusted Trader applicant questionnaire (here), which CBP will request comment on in a coming notice, it said.
CBP will eventually test a "global element" of the Trusted Trader program, the agency said in a Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of Customs and Border Protection document (here). The expansion "will include mutually agreed upon trade compliance criteria and reciprocating benefits between participating countries," it said. CBP is testing a new Trusted Trader program that combines the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism supply chain security program with the Importer Self Assessment (ISA) import compliance program (see 14101019). The agency has said it was considering aligning the program with Canada and Mexico (see 1412050024).