'Considerable Concern' for Drawback Changes, Steel Group Lawyer Says

Coming new drawback processes under the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act (see 1802120020) are the source of "considerable concern," said Steven Baker, a lawyer who chairs the Customs Committee of the American Institute for International Steel, in a blog post. While the drawback processing is set to move to ACE on Feb. 24, "not all functions are supported in ACE, and as of this writing no regulations have been issued," Baker said.

Among the concerns are the lack of accelerated payment for claims submitted before drawback regulations are finalized (see 1801260036). "Members of the trade community are looking forward to drawback practice under the new rules -- they are seen as a welcome modernization," he said. "However, it remains to be seen how long it may be before Customs has new regulations in place and is able to administer the new requirements through ACE. Some activities may be suspended, and claimants may be uncertain how their claims will be processed."