CBP released its March 21 Customs Bulletin (Vol. 52, No. 12). While it does not contain any rulings, it does include recent Court of International Trade opinions and general notices from CBP.

CBP scheduled an event focused on provisions of the Countering America’s Adversaries through Sanctions Act that prohibits imports of goods made with North Koreans, the agency said in an email. "This statute reinforces the need for comprehensive due diligence and supply chain security strategies for U.S. importers," CBP said in a flyer announcing the event. "This session will focus on addressing questions and discussing strategies for compliance." The event is planned for April 13 from 10 a.m. to noon in Crystal City, Virginia, CBP said. As of January, CBP had stopped 15 shipments due to the possible use of North Korean laborers (see 1801120007).

CBP will extend its test of the electronic bond program, known as eBond, "indefinitely," the agency said in a notice. "The extension of the test program is intended to encourage greater participation in the test by the trade and thereby provide CBP data needed to assess the feasibility of implementing the test program on a permanent basis," the agency said. The test began in 2015 (see 1411260026).

CBP will revise its timing for dunning letter mailings related to supplemental duties, taxes and fees, or vessel repair duties, the agency said in a CSMS message. Starting March 26, "CBP will be mailing its dunning letters 120 days from the date of the bill to outline what will happen if payment is not received or if a protest is not filed within 180 days," the agency said. That's an update from a CSMS message CBP sent last summer that announced a shortened dunning letter time frame from 181 days to 61 days (see 1710230033). "If a protest is filed within 180 days, the bill will not be subject to setoff by diverted refunds" and the importer won't be subject to sanction because of that bill, CBP said.

CBP issued the following release on commercial trade and related matters:​

A listing of recent antidumping and countervailing duty messages from the Commerce Department posted to CBP's website March 12-16, along with the case number(s) and CBP message number, is provided below. The messages are available by searching for the listed CBP message number at CBP's ADD CVD Search page.

CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:​

CBP should develop an "evaluation plan" as it prepares to expand its Reimbursable Services and Donations Acceptance programs, the Government Accountability Office said in a March 15 report. "Given CBP’s officer hiring and retention challenges and its finite resources for addressing infrastructure needs at [ports of entry] POEs, CBP’s ability to monitor and evaluate the implementation of its public-private partnership programs is essential to ensuring that CBP leaders have the information that they need to make program decisions and identify and respond to challenges as the programs expand," GAO said. CBP concurred with the recommendation and said it would devise a plan to assess performance of the programs.

CBP listed the proper procedures for "transferring agriculture commodities that require movement for fumigation and/or other treatment as ordered for entry into U.S." in a notice from Stephen Silvestri, assistant port director at Port Everglades/Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. CBP provides the procedures for "treatment as a condition of entry" and "treatment for actionable pests." The March 16 document also notes that "shipments with 'highly mobile actionable pests' must be treated in Port Everglades."

CBP plans to provide more information about its implementation of the new Section 232 tariffs on aluminum and steel, an agency spokesman said. "CBP will issue a message via the Cargo Systems Messaging Service (CSMS) in the next few days with the entry filing requirements for the Section 232 duties," he said. The recently released annexes to the Presidential Proclamations include language allowing CBP to require additional information from importers necessary for the agency to administer the new tariff provisions, as well as any exemptions granted by the Commerce Department. (see 1803140030).