CBP Summarizes August 3, 2006 COAC Meeting
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site a summary of the August 3, 2006 meeting of the Departmental Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of Customs and Border Protection and Related Homeland Security Functions (COAC).
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The following are highlights of CBP's meeting summary. See future issues of ITT for more in-depth excerpts on some of these issues.
Transportation Security Administration - Domestic cargo seals. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials provided an update to COAC members on its partnership with the Department of Defense (DOD) to "civilianize" DOD's User's Guide on Security Seals for Domestic Cargo, which complements the best practices of CBP's Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) program. CBP officials told COAC that they have the manual, but that it is not in final stage review. CBP officials also stated that they are still interested in container security devices (CSDs).
HSPD-13 (Maritime Security Policy) Subcommittee. CBP officials updated the committee about tabletop exercises held in Detroit in July 2007, noting that the important "take away" from the exercises is that government needs to respond to any incident with "one voice" and that communication needs to occur early and often. CBP officials also noted that incidents are "situational" and that the trade needs to develop flexible contingency plans.
(On December 21, 2004, the President issued HSPD-13 on Maritime Security Policy. which requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and others to submit various reports and recommendations regarding maritime security policy. See ITT's Online Archives or 04/18/05 news, 05041815, for BP summary of HSPD-13.)
World Customs Organization Framework and AEO Guidelines. CBP officials updated COAC regarding the World Customs Organization's (WCO's) Framework of Standards to Secure and Facilitate Global Trade (SAFE Framework) and Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) guidelines.
(See ITT's Online Archives or 08/30/06 news, 06083010, for the final part of BP's summary on the WCO-adopted AEO guidelines with links to earlier parts.)
Advance Data Elements ("Ten plus Two"). CBP officials updated COAC regarding its advance data element efforts, noting that it is in the process of evaluating what elements from the entry could be provided earlier without requiring the entire entry prior to loading cargo. In a consultative effort with the Trade Support Network's (TSN's) Supply Chain Security Subcommittee, CBP states that it has identified ten data elements under consideration, plus two additional bits of information on the stow plan and carrier status messages (commonly referred to as "Ten plus Two"). CBP officials stated that the data elements are still internal to the TSN Supply Chain Security working group.
Wood Packing Material. CBP officials stated that they have been dealing with an increase in abandoned goods if the wood packing material (WPM) is non-compliant and that CBP will be mirroring the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) policy if no action is taken, by taking action and billing parties responsible.
Free Trade Agreements. CBP officials provided a status update on free trade agreements (FTAs) and noted that due to complexities of these FTAs, CBP continues to develop and provide training to field personnel to ensure effective enforcement. CBP officials further noted that business rules for each FTA are not the same, some FTAs pose the risk of abuse in the form of false preference claims, and the rules of origin are not interchangeable.
FTAs and Textiles. CBP officials provided an update on FTAs and textiles, noting that approximately 23% of all textile imports are now claiming a trade preference either under an FTA regime or legislative program such as the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). CBP officials also discussed the level of noncompliance, training of textile import specialists in textile FTA requirements, and the use of Textile Production Verification Teams to check on FTA requirements.
Truck Trade Act enforcement. CBP officials discussed Truck Trade Act enforcement, noting that Phase 4 enforcement began June 15, 2006 for ports where ACE had been implemented. CBP states that it began denying the permit to proceed for any carrier that arrived at the border without having cargo information in ACE or ACS, regardless of whether they had proof information was sent to an ABI filer. In addition, CBP officials discussed the impact of the modified enforcement strategy.
e-Manifest for Trucks. During their update on the status of e-Manifest for trucks, CBP officials noted that all Southern Border ports are implemented and there are 75 Northern Border ports to go. CBP noted that e-Manifest will eventually be mandated but only after meeting acceptable service level performance.
Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism. CBP officials provided COAC with an update on the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) program, noting a continued increase in staffing, the continuation of "blitz validations," the University of Virginia's C-TPAT performance measures and return on investment study, implementation of the C-TPAT secure communications portal, etc.
Radiation Portal Monitoring. CBP officials provided details on the use of radiation portal monitoring, noting that radiation portal monitors (RPMs) are used on 90% of cargo at primary Northern and Southern borders, etc.
CBP's COAC meeting summary available at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/import/communications_to_trade/coac/meetings/aug306_meet/meeting_aug05.ctt/meeting_aug05.doc.