CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related issues:
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.
House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-Texas) introduced Dec. 7 long-awaited legislation meant to modernize CBP and other customs-related agencies.
CBP Updated its frequently asked questions for the Centers for Excellence and Expertise. Among the new information within the FAQs is an update on the agency's outreach with brokers to develop a defined role within the CEEs and plans for the opening of the recently announced CEEs scheduled to open in FY 2013.
CBP posted numerous documents providing overviews of the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) and its benefits for various industries as well as other information on ACE. Many of the fact sheets mirror the agency's previous list of ACE benefits by industry (here), though there are several industries that aren't addressed in the previous document.
The CBP transition from the Automated Commercial System to the Automated Commercial Environment has resulted in the accidental release of confidential manifest information, according to international trade law firm Grunfeld, Desiderio, Lebowitz, Silverman & Klestadt (GDLSK). The firm said on its Website that CBP is aware of the problem and is working to fix it. CBP didn't return a request for comment.
CBP Houston is having problems with the phone and fax lines in the seaport main office, it said in an email. Paperwork can be emailed to HoustonSeaportFusion@DHS.GOV. An emergency contact number was also provided: (281) 330-4939.
CBP released its Dec. 5 Customs Bulletin (Vol. 46, No. 50). While the Bulletin does not contain any ruling articles, it does include recent Court of International Trade decisions.
A CBP advisory ruling regarding the country of origin of imported software products and their acquisition by the government marks a new understanding for software developed outside the U.S., said Talend, an open source software company. The company said in a press release the CBP ruling will benefit software vendors of all types.
CBP is requesting comments by Feb. 5 for an existing information collection on applications for allowance in duties. CBP proposes to extend the expiration date of this information collection without a change to the burden hours or to the information collected. The notice is scheduled to run in the Federal Register Dec. 7.
The Senate leadership pushed to Dec. 6 consideration of legislation (HR-6156) that would give Russia and Moldova Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status. The Senate has reached an agreement to consider the Russia-Moldova PNTR bill with no amendments, according to Senate Democrats. The House recently approved the bill, which would repeal the Jackson-Vanik amendment, which limits U.S. trade with communist countries.