CBP Announces Next Remote COAC Meeting Date, Releases Agenda

The Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee (COAC) for CBP will next meet remotely Sept. 20, CBP said in a notice. Comments are due in writing by Sept. 15.

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 Intelligent Enforcement Subcommittee will provide updates on the work completed and topics discussed in its working groups. The Antidumping/Countervailing Duty (AD/CVD) Working Group will provide updates regarding its work and discussions on importer compliance with AD/CVD requirements. The Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Process Modernization Working Group will report on, and anticipates providing recommendations for the committee’s consideration relating to, the development of a portal on the CBP IPR web page and other enhancements in communications between CBP, rights holders, and the trade community regarding enforcement actions. The Bond Working Group will report on the ongoing discussions and status updates for eBond requirements. The Forced Labor Working Group (FLWG) has been working on the implementation of recommendations and updates, as well as revisions to its statement of work. The FLWG will also provide updates and anticipates making recommendations for the committee’s consideration at the September public meeting.
• The Next Generation Facilitation Subcommittee will provide updates on its working groups. There will be an update and potential recommendations for the committee’s consideration from the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) 2.0 Working Group regarding progress on the ACE 2.0 initiative resulting from the working group’s recent in-person sessions held to review the CBP ACE 2.0 Concept of Operations processes. The Customs Interagency Industry Working Group (CII) (formerly the One U.S. Government Working Group) will provide an update on the work accomplished this quarter, which includes discussions with Partner Government Agencies and an update on ACE 2.0. The Passenger Air Operations (PAO) Working Group has been focusing its discussions on CBP security seal processing and access to international aircraft and passengers, landing rights, and elimination of outdated or obsolete forms, and will provide an update on those discussions.
• The Rapid Response Subcommittee will provide updates from the Broker Modernization Working Group and the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) Chapter 7 Working Group. The Broker Modernization Working Group currently meets monthly and continues to focus on the 19 CFR part 111 final rules relating to Modernization of the Customs Broker Regulations and Continuing Education for Licensed Customs Brokers, as well as Customs Broker Licensing Exams matters. The subcommittee anticipates the Broker Modernization Working Group will provide one recommendation for the committee’s consideration. The USMCA Chapter 7 Working Group meets biweekly with the expectation that recommendations will be developed and submitted for consideration at an upcoming COAC public meeting. The current focus of this working group is to review the Chapter 7 articles of the USMCA and identify gaps in implementation between the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
• The Secure Trade Lanes Subcommittee will provide updates on its five active working groups: the Export Modernization Working Group, the In-Bond Working Group, the Trade Partnership and Engagement Working Group, the Pipeline Working Group, and the Cross-Border Recognition Working Group. The Export Modernization Working Group has continued its work on the electronic export manifest pilot program. The In-Bond Working Group has continued its focus on the implementation of previously submitted recommendations. The Trade Partnership and Engagement Working Group has focused its work on implementing previous recommendations for Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT) Trade Compliance partners and is working to update its statement of work to include CTPAT security. The Pipeline Working Group expects to submit a recommendation for the committee’s consideration that CBP develop a pilot to use Distributed Ledger Technology to enhance transparency in supply chains for pipeline-borne goods. Although the Cross-Border Recognition Working Group did not meet this quarter, it remains an active working group within the subcommittee and will resume meetings next quarter.