CBP Working to Make Trade Compliance in CTPAT Official, End ISA Program

CBP plans to issue a Federal Register notice in coming months that will officially end the Importer Self-Assessment program and fully launch the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism Trade Compliance program, said Amy Hatfield, a trade compliance program manager within the CTPAT office. The notice will also end the pilot version of CTPAT Trade Compliance, said Hatfield, speaking virtually Aug. 4 during a CBP Detroit Trade Week event. Currently, the Trade Compliance program membership is made up only of former ISA members, she said.

The Office of Regulations and Rulings is working on the notice based on the requirements provided by the CTPAT office, Hatfield said. The notice won't “address the Partner Government Agency piece of the pilot because those discussions are ongoing,” but “it will essentially be a CBP-specific announcement that says 'This is an official program' and it will allow us to open up participation to additional participants.”

CBP was hoping to have the Federal Register notice by the end of the fiscal year, but that seems unlikely now, Hatfield said. The agency is now aiming to have it out by the end of the calendar year. A draft handbook being finalized will likely be posted once the notice is out, she said. The agency last year released some frequently asked questions on CTPAT Trade Compliance.

CBP also recently began work with the World Customs Organization on updating the “SAFE Framework” standards to secure and facilitate trade for implementation in 2024, Hatfield said. “The program really is going to allow us to add all of the trade requirements to our program,” CBP said. The agency will put together a draft within CBP by January and then begin the “socialization process” with the WCO, she said.