CBP Releases Draft Electronic Export Manifest Business Process Document

CBP released a draft version of its business process document for Electronic Export Manifest and is hoping to get feedback at the CBP Trade Symposium in Chicago, the agency said in an email. "If you plan to attend the Exports Modernization Feedback Session on Wednesday, July 24, we are asking participants to be prepared to provide feedback on the attached CBP draft Electronic Export Manifest Business Process document," the agency said. "CBP is interested in hearing your feedback during the session."

A CBP official recently said the business process document would begin the implementation of pre-departure of EEM, which is seen as a key pre-condition to bringing back post-departure filing of Electronic Export Information (EEI) (see 1905310049). The agency has been testing EEM in multiple modes, which "has already shown that the ocean, air and rail community is capable of submitting the EEM information prior to loading the cargo onto the conveyance destined to or transiting through the United States at the last port of departure," CBP said.

The EEM process document includes a workflow diagram "developed by [the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)] in conjunction with the many industry participants in the EEM pilot," CBP said. "This allows the party with the most accurate information to send it to CBP at the earliest time possible and identify any risks early in the supply chain so it can reduce the risk and disrupting trade movement."

The document includes a list of data that's required for an EEM risk assessment:

• Total Quantity - based on the smallest external packing unit
• Total Weight - total weight of cargo expressed in pounds or kilograms
• Cargo Description - generic cargo descriptions should be avoided
• Shipper Name and Address - individual name or name of business and a valid street address with city/province, country and postal code
• Consignee Name and Address - individual name or name of business and a valid street address with city/province, country and postal code.
• Schedule departure and departure port

Those elements are "known in the industry as the 'house bill'” data that exists prior to departure," CBP said. "In addition to this list of mandatory data items, an Air Waybill or House Bill or Simple Bill number must be included as the identifying element, as well as a Participant Originator Code."

Among the apparently undecided issues in the draft is one that involves in-bond processing. "The EEM will automatically trigger messages needed to close the inbond shipments under certain conditions," CBP said. "However, closing of the inbond is still the responsibility of the ????? if the automated export system did not close automatically."