With the World Customs Organization positioned to take a major role in implementation of the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), the U.S. would benefit by having representation in a policy-making position at the WCO, said Ana Hinojosa, CBP's nominee for a leadership position at the intergovernmental body, in a recent interview. Hinojosa also pointed to the development of e-commerce and risk management policies as among the major issues expected to come up at the WCO in the near future. Hinojosa, now CBP deputy assistant commissioner in the Office of International Affairs, was nominated by CBP Commissioner Gil Kerlikowske earlier this year to be WCO director, Compliance and Facilitation (see 1501210015).
Tim Warren
Timothy Warren is Executive Managing Editor of Communications Daily. He previously led the International Trade Today editorial team from the time it was purchased by Warren Communications News in 2012 through the launch of Export Compliance Daily and Trade Law Daily. Tim is a 2005 graduate of the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts and lives in Maryland with his wife and three kids.
In the April 22 issue of the CBP Customs Bulletin (Vol. 49, No. 16) (here), CBP published notices that propose to revoke or modify rulings and similar treatment for the tariff classification of cat toys and cycling shoes.
The Department of Homeland Security is beginning to discuss with industry the use of reusable Electronic Cargo Security Devices (ECSDs), said Ellen McClain, DHS Deputy Assistant Secretary, Trans-Border Policy at the Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations meeting April 24. The DHS and CBP have used such devices within a number of pilot programs since 2013, she said. The discussions will begin with the COAC Global Supply Chain Subcommittee, she said.
ORLANDO, FLA. -- CBP included a revision to the definition of "customs business" and a proposed broker employment ratio within a set of changes to the agency's regulations in 19 CFR Part 111, said Troy Riley, executive director of CBP's Office of Commercial Targeting and Enforcement. Riley, who spoke at the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America conference on April 22, discussed a number of the proposed regulatory updates, though he was unable to go into great detail because the changes are now undergoing a further review at the agency. The Part 111 update does not include continuing education requirements, he said.
ORLANDO, FLA. -- There's still some uncertainty as to whether CBP will ultimately require continuing education hours as part of a customs broker license, said Brenda Smith, assistant commissioner in CBP's Office of International Trade at the National Customs Broker & Forwarders Association of America conference on April 20. The agency is now in the process of reviewing whether it has the authority to make such a requirement and CBP will also need to look at all the pieces involved, she said. CBP has been considering for several years a proposal to require customs brokers to have 40 hours of continuing education for every three years (see 13041104).
ORLANDO, FLA. – CBP's Office of Regulations and Rulings is "preparing a number of proposed amendments" to customs broker regulations in 19 CFR Part 111, said CBP Commissioner Gil Kerlikowske while speaking at the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America on April 21. Kerlikowske also lauded the movement of just-introduced customs legislation.
CBP found that the Houston Drawback Center was mistaken in rejecting a drawback claim for infrared camera systems that a contractor imported for use by the Defense Department. The agency ruled (here) in favor of the importer, FLIR Systems, in response to a request for further review of protest. The company procured the camera systems in 2008 for use in Operation Iraqi Freedom “in direct support of wartime activities,” said CBP.
CBP is announcing the calendar year 2015 tariff-rate quota for tuna in airtight containers (here). It said 15,954,733 kilograms of tuna in air-tight containers may be entered and withdrawn from warehouse for consumption during 2015, at the rate of 6% ad valorem under HTS subheading 1604.14.22. Any such tuna which is entered or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption during the current calendar year in excess of this quota will be dutiable at the rate of 12.5% ad valorem under HTS subheading 1604.14.30.
CBP's update to customs broker regulations is "still in progress," though the agency went "back and forth" on whether to rewrite the entirety of Part 111, said Sandra Bell, deputy commissioner in CBP's Office of International Trade. Bell, who spoke April 15 at the American Apparel and Footwear Association customs conference, said the agency plans to update the regulations in multiple stages and the continuing education portion should be out "shortly."
The Federal Maritime Commission released an agency report on "detention, demurrage and free time" after the agency voted to make the report public on April 13, said the FMC (here). The report (here) is the result of "four congestion forums held by each of the Commissioners at major gateway ports in the fall of 2014 and subsequent contact from stakeholders," the agency said. The FMC also voted to release the meeting transcript related to the staff report once it becomes available, it said.