CBP Announces Next Remote COAC Meeting Date, Releases Agenda

The Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee (COAC) for CBP will next meet remotely on March 17, CBP said in a notice. Comments are due in writing by March 16.

The COAC will hear from the following subcommittees on the topics listed below and then will review, deliberate and formulate recommendations on how to proceed on those topics:

• The Next Generation Facilitation Subcommittee will provide an update on the following working groups: the Unified Entry Processes Working Group will provide an update on the current status of the development of objectives for the future entry environment to enable faster and more secure entry processing; the Emerging Technologies Working Group will provide an update on the University of Houston’s blockchain assessment report; and the One U.S. Government Working Group will provide an update on several key projects, including the Partner Government Agency Disclaim Handbook and the automation of currently required original/hard copy documents at time of entry.
• The Rapid Response Subcommittee will provide an update on the progress of the Broker Exam Modernization Working Group efforts to improve the testing experience for the April 2021 exam, as well as future broker exams. The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) Working Group has reconvened and will provide an update regarding its goals and objectives.
• The Intelligent Enforcement Subcommittee will provide updates on the following working groups: the Bond Working Group will report on the continued work with CBP on the Monetary Guidelines of Setting Bond Amounts as part of a larger risk-based bonding initiative; the Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Duty (AD/CVD) Working Group will report on the discussions surrounding non-resident importers and the impact this has on AD/CVD enforcement along with recommended solutions; the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Process Modernization Working Group will provide updates on development of several recommendations put forth during the April 2020 COAC meeting and will submit recommendations furthering the modernization of the IPR Process; and the Forced Labor Working Group will provide a summary of the areas of focus that will be in its scope for the upcoming quarter.
• The Secure Trade Lanes Subcommittee will present updates on the following working groups: the Trusted Trader Working Group’s progress in developing the CBP White Paper for the Implementation of C-TPAT Trade Compliance Requirements for Forced Labor; the In-Bond Working Group’s ongoing work with the technical enhancements that have been shared with the Trade Support Network, as well as the review of regulatory recommendations for future development; the Export Modernization Working Group’s progress in developing the Export Operations for the 21st Century White Paper mentioned during the Oct. 7, 2020, COAC meeting; and the Remote and Autonomous Cargo Processing Working Group’s progress reviewing the various modes of conveyance and automation opportunities.