CBP Preparing Ruling on Use of Electronic Signatures of POAs

CBP is preparing a ruling on whether electronic signatures may be used for issuing an import power-of-attorney, said Emily Simon, chief of the agency's Trade and Commercial Regulations Branch. The Entry Process and Duty Refunds Branch, as well as the Broker Management Branch, are reviewing the matter, she told a March 3 Airforwarders Association virtual event. “My understanding is that we have a ruling being developed right now to address the use of an electronic signature under certain circumstances, but not necessarily all of them in that one particular ruling,” she said. Simon said she couldn't go into more detail because it falls outside her role at CBP.

CBP started some new “Phase 1" evaluations late last year meant to examine the use of blockchain in various scenarios, said Marie Williams, CBP branch chief, Business Transformation and Innovation Division. One new use involves food safety and trying to reduce the amount of time food remains at ports, she said. E-commerce is another area CBP is considering because “it's hard to tell who is connected to who in that supply chain” and blockchain could help “shed light on to that,” she said. CBP is working with the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate on the efforts (see 1911120008), she said.