CBP Deputy Director Says Broker Continuing Education Rulemaking Progressing

The advance notice of proposed rulemaking on continuing education for licensed brokers is currently circulating in CBP for review, said CBP Deputy Commissioner Robert Perez. Perez was speaking at an online conference of the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America on Sept. 14. He did not say what kind of mandatory requirements would be part of the plan, but said that it will include a methodology for approving education accreditors, and said that the agency has “taken into account the excellent feedback from you and other trade stakeholders.” The NCBFAA supports mandatory continuing education, but has been concerned about the details (see 2002130025).

Perez also updated listeners on ACE rollouts. He said that on or about Sept. 26, CBP will deploy an update to the Foreign-Trade Zone admission process (see 2008270006). This update will reduce the effort needed to report discrepancies. He reminded listeners that USMCA is in a period of informed compliance through the end of the year, and imports in the auto sector will remain in a period of informed compliance through July 202. He said a chatbot at the USMCA Center is averaging 50 conversations a day. In the coming months, CBP will be rolling out compliance guidance for USMCA, he said, and will continue to hold webinars to educate stakeholders.