The forced budget cuts of sequestration won't directly affect CBP's numerous pilot programs that are part of its "Trade Transformation" initiative, said Maria Luisa O’Connell, CBP's Senior Advisor for Trade, while speaking on a panel at an American Bar Association conference April 25. Many of the effects of sequestration, including the need for furloughs, remain unclear and the agency is waiting to hear from the White House for further guidance, she said. CBP expects to know more within the month, she said. Agency trade transformation pilots include its Document Image System, the Centers for Excellence and Expertise (CEEs), and Simplified Entry.
International Trade Today is providing readers with some of the top stories for April 15-19 in case they were missed.
CBP's intent to establish a new system of records (SORS) for data filed as part of the Customs—Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) program is causing alarm among some trade groups due to the potential release of proprietary information. Several recent filings with the agency responding to the notice establishing the SORS and a related proposed rulemaking (see 13031225) indicate concern with the idea and the speed at which the regulatory process is moving forward.
RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. -- A new National Customs Broker and Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA) program would make use of the knowledge and relationship brokers' have with their clients by creating a list of importers that brokers have gathered some baseline information on. The program, known as the "Broker Known Importer Program," was described at the NCBFAA conference April 10. The concept is part of CBP's "Role of the Broker" initiative and isn't expected to require major regulatory changes.
About 94.5 percent of C-TPAT members complied with C-TPAT security guidelines during 2012, somewhat below the 100 percent goal, according to the CBP's annual fiscal year 2012 performance report released by CBP. The results also were below the 95.1 percent in 2011. The report also said 100 percent of inbound high-risk cargo was screened and its entry was resolved prior to or during processing at the U.S. port of entry. It said 98 percent of requested cargo examinations were done at foreign ports of origin in cooperation with host nations under CSI, below the 100 percent goal, but better than the 96 percent in 2011. Other findings:
International Trade Today is providing readers with some of the top stories for April 1-5 in case they were missed.
Given delays caused by sequestration funding cuts, CBP will reiterate to the ports its commitment to giving priority to C-TPAT shipments designated for examination, it said in an update to its FAQ on sequestration. The agency is currently working with its NAFTA partners to manage the flow of traffic at land border crossings, with the aim of continuing to offer front-of-the-line priority for its trusted partners in the face of the backlog created by reduced staffing, it said. But despite sequestration, CBP said implementation of the CEEs is currently on schedule. The agency also still hopes to complete ACE within its originally scheduled timeframe.
C-TPAT said it had completed 22,492 validations by Feb. 1, in a C-TPAT program achievements notice. It said that included 11,775 initial validations completed and 10,717 revalidations completed. By year, there were 640 initial validations and 1,736 revalidations in 2012, and 78 initial validations and 186 revalidations so far this year.
Neither a System of Records Notice (SORN) nor a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on exempting certain information collected through the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) from the Privacy Act is a burden on the public, CBP said in a FAQ publication on the Act (here).
Forthcoming customs reauthorization legislation will force Congress to confront tensions between trade security and trade facilitation, costs and benefits -- including how to implement the International Trade Data System and monitor Automated Commercial Enforcement -- according to a March 22 report on CBP from the Congressional Research Service. Most of the issues for Congress relating to CBP reauthorization stem from the “inherent tension between the commercial interest in trade facilitation and the often competing goals of enforcing trade laws and import security measures,” said the report, which also details the agency’s history and programs.