CBP is undergoing its "own version of a corporate reorganization" as the agency continues work to increase the role of the Centers of Excellence and Expertise, said Deputy Commissioner Kevin McAleenan , who spoke during the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America Government Affairs Conference on Sept. 16. The agency is aligning its staff with how industry is set up, he said. That includes adjustments to the agency's field operations, the Office of Trade and legal counsel, all of which is helping CBP develop a better "compliance and security posture," said McAleenan.
CBP Commissioner Gil Kerlikowske promoted Brenda Smith, who previously headed up the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) business office at the agency, as assistant commissioner in the Office of International Trade, CBP said in a Sept. 11 press release. Smith takes over for Rich DiNucci, who led the Office of International Trade in an acting capacity since Al Gina retired last year (see 13080802). DiNucci was moved to the Office of Field Operations, where he will be executive director of Cargo Conveyance and Security, said the agency.
CBP posted a fact sheet describing the planned Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism program for exporters. CBP recently posted a list of exporter eligibility requirements for participation in C-TPAT (see 14070921).
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related issues:
Comments submitted to CBP so far on the agency's plans to update an informed compliance publication with information on first sale valuation show some strong objections to the effort. Law firm Sandler Travis called for the proposed changes to be "withdrawn in their entirety," while the American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) said uncertainty over documentation requirements point to a need for auditor training, not a revised ICP. Several others are expected to submit comments in coming days. The draft ICP includes a controversial list of documents the agency might request from industry to verify the use of first sale pricing (see 14071025).
CBP scheduled the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) National Conference for Aug. 26-28 in San Antonio, the agency said on its website. The conference's theme will be “C-TPAT: Partnering in Supply Chain Security and Facilitation for the 21st Century,” it said. The event will include two sessions and participants may only take part in one of the sessions, it said. Topics scheduled for discussion include business partner relationships, security breaches and internal conspiracies, validation/revalidation results, C-TPAT membership maintenance and mutual recognition. Registration for Session A on Aug. 26-27 is (here) and registration for Session B on Aug. 27-28 is (here).
Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) members should be wary of use of non-compliant wood packing material (WPM), CBP said in a notice to C-TPAT members. Sea carriers should know of recent interceptions of non-compliant WPM "used in flat rack cargo carried by ocean vessels traversing the Mediterranean," it said. C-TPAT members should make sure supply chain partners use WPM that meet the International Plant Protection Convention standard, it said.
CBP posted a list of exporter eligibility requirements for participation within the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) program. The agency and industry has long discussed opening up the security program to exporters and a Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations subcommittee recently gave its approval to the eligibility requirements (here).
CBP Commissioner Gil Kerlikowske and Israel's Tax Authority Director General Moshe Asher recently finalized a mutual recognition arrangement that allows for the two countries to consider each other's trusted trader programs -- Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) in the U.S. and Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) for Israel -- for customs purposes, said CBP. As expected (see 14061619), the signing was held at the World Customs Organization conference in Brussels, Belgium. "The arrangement provides tangible and intangible benefits to C-TPAT and Israel AEO program members to include: fewer exams when shipping cargo, a faster validation process, common standards, efficiency for Customs and business, transparency between Customs administrations, business resumption, front of the line processing, and marketability," it said.The agency announced plans for a mutual recognition in 2012 (see 12121007).
CBP provided additional guidance for industry in the event of possible port disruptions related to labor contract disputes on the west coast, in a CSMS message sent July 3 (here). The update to a guidance issued on June 24 (see 14062423) includes more details on how to handle shipments of FDA-regulated products. It also includes new information for customs brokers whose shipments have been diverted to another district where the broker is unpermitted, updates procedures for cargo diverted to another west coast port, and says part of CBP’s plan is to “provide front-of-the-line benefits and priority processing to partners in the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) program.”