New COAC Members Could Be Added Soon, CBP Says

CBP expects the Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee (COAC) to add more members to the committee's roster soon, CBP told International Trade Today.

"CBP is grateful for the work of the current COAC members, and we hope to onboard additional members to share the workload sooner, rather than later," the agency said.

CBP's comments follow concerns from trade groups that COAC is short on members by 30% (see 2408120041). Thirty-five groups had sent a letter on Aug. 12 on the issue to the secretaries of DHS and the Treasury, the acting commissioner of CBP, the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee, saying the lack of a full roster is hindering the committee from fulfilling all the work it would like to do.

The groups said in the letter that six regular members and five alternate members would fill COAC's roster. The full COAC has 20 members.

As the trade waits for more members to be added, CBP said the public can share feedback on recent recommendations with CBP's Office of Trade Relations and participate in the upcoming meeting on Sept. 18. Members of the trade community and broader public can provide comments in writing during the lead-up to each quarterly meeting and comments can be shared orally or in writing during the meeting itself, CBP said.

Although no timelines were given for when the new members would be added, CBP's statement echoes similar sentiments expressed when Troy A. Miller, CBP senior official performing the duties of the commissioner, said at the COAC meeting on March 6 (see 2403060086): “I look forward to announcing the remaining members for the committee’s 17th term, soon.”