The release of trade information that had been requested to be kept confidential was the result of improper data entry by users and not CBP programming or systems error, the agency said in a CSMS message. CBP said it received numerous complaints from importers/consignees regarding specific data (namely, party/shipper/consignee name and address) that was released despite their submitted requests for confidentiality.
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.
CBP is extending the comment period to March 13 for an existing information collection on holders or containers which enter the U.S. duty free. CBP proposes to extend the expiration date of this information collection without a change to the burden hours or to the information collected.
On Feb. 6, the following trade-related bills and resolutions were introduced:
CBP posted a timeline for planned capabilities for the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE). Plans for 2013 include:
Better centralization and coordination between CBP and and the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) is needed to manage radiation screening for all containerized cargo, said the Department of Homeland Security's Office of the Inspector General (OIG) in a new report. Highlights are available (here).
House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) said he plans to introduce legislation next week that will improve border security. “As part of my agenda, next week I will lay out a framework for legislation to gain operational control of our borders," he said in a press release. "It is this Committee’s duty to oversee the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs and Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection, and we must ensure they cohesively develop a long overdue comprehensive plan to secure our borders."
CBP issued a Jan. 31 directive to the agency's field offices about the processing and reporting of quota-class merchandise. The directive specifically provides information on determining the time of presentation of the entry summary, which establishes quota priority and status, it said. The directive points to the regulations from 19 CFR Sections 132, 141, and 24 to give guidance on the reporting of quota-class merchandise.
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related issues:
CBP pulled down its AD/CV enforcement statistics for FY 2012 that were recently posted on the agency's website. The statistics, previously found (here), are no longer available. CBP didn't respond to a request for comment about the removal. This was the first year CBP tracked such statistics and it will continue to do so in the future, a CBP spokeswoman said when the statistics were initially released.
The CBP Regulations and Ruling Division within the Office of International Trade will move office space to 90 K Street, NE, Washington, DC 20229, said CBP. All correspondence for the division , including mailed comments regarding section 1625 modifications or revocations, should be sent to the new address as of Feb. 6, said CBP. The phone number will remain the same, the agency said.