CBP Says Blockchain Integration Testing Underway
CBP is "conducting integration testing to prove compatibility of a blockchain platform with multiple partner systems," according to an update from the emerging technologies working group ahead of the Oct. 3 Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee (COAC) meeting. CBP began an initial "proof of concept" in September as the agency considers the potential for the distributed ledger technology (see 1808200040). "Portions of the NAFTA / CAFTA import process, specifically verification of intellectual property and relationships between licensees and licensors, have been identified as good candidates for improvement if a transition to a more digitized, decentralized system is undertaken," it said.
There will be a four-phase implementation plan for the new Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism Minimum Security Criteria. The phase-in will be "managed on the degree of importance impacting the global supply chain and perceived security risk," the COAC Trusted Trader Program Subcommittee said in an executive summary. While CBP "plans to implement the new MSC incrementally throughout 2019," the CTPAT "members will not be expected to adhere to the new security standards until early 2020," CBP said in a document. CBP recently began circulating proposed MSC updates to CTPAT members through the CTPAT portal (see 1807300011) and will post the criteria on the CTPAT webpage once finalized.
According to the COAC meeting agenda, CBP will "announce how the COAC subcommittees will be re-organized to align with CBP’s trade strategic priorities." CBP also posted the following documents for the Oct. 3 COAC meeting:
Administrative
- Agenda (here)
Trade Enforcement and Revenue Collection
- Trade Executive Summary (here)
- AD/CV Duty Issue Paper (here)
- Forced Labor Issue Paper (here)
- Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Issue Paper (here)
- Risk-Based Bonding Issue Paper (here)
Trade Modernization
- Trade Executive Summary (here)
- Regulatory Reform Issue Paper (here)
- E-Commerce Issue Paper (here)
- De Minimis Section 321 Issue Paper (here)
Trusted Trader
Global Supply Chain
- Emerging Technologies Issue Paper (here)