Washington Trade Daily reports that key House and Senate lawmakers announced on June 26, 2007 that they had reached agreement on an eight-month extension of the Andean trade preferences program, and have the intention of passing an extension measure before the program's expiration on June 30, 2007. (WTD, dated 06/27/07, www.washingtontradedaily.com)
CBP has updated the following chapters of its "Laboratory Methods" Guide: 4, 7-9, 11, 12, 15, 17-22, 24-35, 38-42, 44, 47-64, 68-76, 78-81, and 85. Requests for copies of "Laboratory Methods" should be sent to cbp.labhq@dhs.gov. (List of updated chapters, posted 06/14/07, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/import/operations_support/labs_scientific_svcs/technical_documents/lab_methods/)
During the May 15, 2007 meeting of the Departmental Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of Customs and Border Protection and Related Homeland Security Functions (COAC), DHS officials discussed, among other things, DHS' draft report entitled "Security to Enhance International Supply Chain Security."
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials recently announced that CBP was developing an "additional" benefit for C-TPAT members designed to reduce container demurrage. (CBP would only require container(s) targeted for exam to be held at ocean terminals for C-TPAT importers instead of all containers listed on the entry; the remaining containers would be allowed to be removed from the terminal.)
CBP has posted a document to its Web site which provides information regarding the C-TPAT enrollment seminar it will be holding in Mexico City, Mexico on June 27-28, 20071. The document provides information on the event-location, registration, C-TPAT workshop, etc.
American Shipper reports that a senior U.S. Customs and Border Protection cargo and conveyance security official stated that CBP wants Canada to strengthen its Partners in Protection program to be more in line with the U.S. C-TPAT program to help with mutual recognition of those programs. CBP would like Canada to dedicate more staff to verify that corporate security plans meet basic criteria, more clearly define its security criteria, and conduct on-site assessments to check that supply chain security practices are followed according to the corporate plan. (American Shipper, March 2007, www.americanshipper.com)
The Journal of Commerce reports that the U.S. decision to withdraw its obligations in the online gambling case brought against the U.S. by Antigua and Barbuda in a World Trade Organization dispute panel could imperil U.S. exports. The Journal of Commerce further states that the ruling of the WTO dispute panel opened the door for compensation claims against the U.S., not only by Antigua but by any WTO member, which could potentially run into the billions of dollars in trade concessions imposed on U.S. goods. (JoC, 05/23/07, available at www.joc.com.)
During the May 15, 2007 meeting of the Departmental Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of Customs and Border Protection and Related Homeland Security Functions (COAC), CBP officials discussed, among other things, CBP's plans to issue a proposed rule containing its proposed Security Filing (10+2) requirements for 10 additional data elements from importers 24 hours prior to foreign lading, and for 2 additional data sets from ocean carriers, for imported maritime cargo.
CBP has issued an ABI administrative message announcing that it has posted to its Web site a notice of the e-Manifest: Truck phased enforcement actions that truck carriers at all land border ports in Idaho and Montana should expect CBP to take beginning August 6, 2007. (See ITT's Online Archives or 05/24/07 news, 07052405, for BP summary of the phased enforcement plan.) (Adm: 07-0134, dated 05/25/07, available at http://www.brokerpower.com/cgi-bin/adminsearch/admmsg.view.pl?article=2007/2007-0134.ADM)
On April 26, 2007, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Coast Guard, and Transportation Security Administration officials testified before a House Homeland Security Committee subcommittee as part of its six-month review of the Security and Accountability for Every (SAFE) Port Act.