The Journal of Commerce Online reports that a decision by union longshoremen not to work on Labor Day could cause a labor shortage at the port of Los Angeles - Long Beach, throwing these ports into crisis mode due to record volumes of vessels in the port complex. The article notes that these ports have been struggling with port congestion due largely to delays in the intermodal rail network and a shortage of dockworkers. Port employers had asked the union to be available to work on Labor Day. (Joc Online, dated 09/01/04, www.joc.com )
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a notice announcing that the next meeting of the Departmental Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection and Related Functions (COAC) will be held on September 10, 2004 in Buffalo, NY. (This committee was previously called the "Treasury Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of the U.S. Customs Service.")
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued its Fiscal Year (FY) 2004 Mid-Year Import Trade Trends Report, which covers October 2003 - March 2004.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a notice informing truck carriers of the compliance dates for transmitting advance electronic information to CBP for cargo they are bringing into the U.S., as mandated by the Trade Act of 2002 and a December 5, 2003 final rule.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has posted to its Web site a revised "Joint FDA-CBP Plan for Increasing Integration and Assessing the Coordination of Prior Notice (PN) Timeframes" (FDA/CBP Joint Plan).
The Journal of Commerce Online reports that a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official has recently stated that DHS wants to establish a "gold standard" for supply-chain security that combines regulation and voluntary cooperation between government and business. According to the article, the criteria would comprise security measures enforced through DHS regulation, and cooperative programs like the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT), and that combined, they would allow commerce to resume after a terrorist attack. (JoC Online, dated 07/26/04, www.joc.com.)
For Global Supply Chain
During the Trade Support Network (TSN) Conference on July 1, 2004, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Bonner addressed a variety of issues, including expected delays in completing the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) and recent events at the World Customs Organization (WCO) regarding supply chain security. Highlights of Commissioner Bonner's remarks are provided below:
During June 24-26, 2004, the World Customs Organization (WCO) Council initiated a High-Level Strategic Group that will provide leadership and guidance to WCO members in the establishment of an international framework on security and facilitation.
On June 18, 2004, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 4567, the fiscal year (FY) 2005 appropriations bill for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and the Coast Guard.