New CBP Center for Excellence and Expertise Opens in Houston

CBP opened the Petroleum, Natural Gas and Minerals Center of Excellence and Expertise CEE in Houston Sept. 17, it said in a Sept. 24 press release. The CEE has started centralized processing for all trusted partners in the industry, "providing uniformity for trusted importers," said CBP.

(CBP recently said three CEEs -- Pharmaceuticals, Health and Chemicals; Electronics; and Automotive and Aerospace -- will handle a number of processing functions as of Sept. 27. The agency said the Petroleum, Natural Gas and Minerals CEE will transition to handling the same functions Oct. 1. Five more CEEs are scheduled to be completed by the end of FY 2013, though their locations haven't been finalized. The other CEEs will focus on Agriculture and Prepared Products, Base Metals and Machinery, Consumer Products, Industrial and Manufacturing Materials, and Textiles, Wearing Apparel and Footwear. )

Center personnel answer questions, provide information and develop trade facilitation strategies to address uniformity and compliance concerns. They will also act as a single point of processing for businesses enrolled in CBP’s trusted shipper programs: the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) and Importer Self-Assessment (ISA).

Will Deal with Trusted Shipper, C-TPAT and ISA

Center personnel answer questions, provide information and develop trade facilitation strategies to address uniformity and compliance concerns. They will also serve as a single point of processing for businesses enrolled in CBP’s trusted shipper programs: the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) and Importer Self-Assessment (ISA).

The CEE joins the Pharmaceuticals Center in New York, the Electronics Center in Los Angeles and the Auto/Aerospace Center in Detroit. CBP expects to open the rest in 2013, with the goal of covering the entire Harmonized Tariff Schedule commodity range.

(See ITT's Online Archives 12090421 detailing the functions and timelines of the CEEs.