Thomas Winkowski took over as CBP's acting commissioner following Deputy Commissioner David Aguilar's last day on March 30. Aguilar announced his plans to retire in February (see 13021125). Kevin McAleenan, previously assistant commissioner for the Office of Field Operations, will move up to acting deputy commissioner.
CBP asked the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) "about a number of variables" related to the recent continuing resolution that authorized government funding for the rest of FY 2013, according to the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU). CBP cut its overtime allowances and notified employees of 14 possible furlough days earlier this year as a result of the sequestration cuts, though there's now some question as to the severity of such cuts.
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related issues:
A listing of recent antidumping and countervailing duty messages from the International Trade Administration posted to CBP's website March 28, 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 addcvd.cbp.gov. (CBP occasionally adds backdated messages without otherwise indicating which message was added. ITT will include a message date in parentheses in such cases.)
CBP posted new materials describing the Participating Government Agency (PGA) message set pilot program that will allow for the filing of some Environmental Protection Agency and Food Safety and Inspection Service information through ACE. The pilots will allow for electronic filing of foreign inspection certificates, automated validation checks and messaging between the agencies and the filers regarding validation results, according to overviews of the pilots (here) and (here). The EPA pilot will begin late summer and the FSIS pilot will begin May 28 (see 13032829).
CBP updated its list of field offices whose ports accept the electronic CBP Form 214 (e214, Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) Admission and/or Status Designation) in lieu of a paper copy. The agency added two new field offices, Tampa and Tucson, to the list.
The Port of Seattle's ability to efficiently inspect and reinspect cargo following discovery of an Asian Gypsy Moth (AGMs) may be seriously limited by sequestration, said CBP's Seattle field office in a March 27 trade information notice (TIN). The budget constraints and CBP furloughs may result in "significant delays to the release of vessels and the discharge of their cargo," said the TIN. The notice reminds shippers that the high risk season for AGMs is approaching and that vessel crews should look for, remove and treat AGM egg masses during transit from high risk countries in Asia to help reduce delays.
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related issues:
CBP posted an updated summary of changes for the Automated Export System Trade Interface Requirements (AESTIR). Most recently, the following changes to Appendix A for Commodity Response Filing Messages were posted:
A listing of recent antidumping and countervailing duty messages from the International Trade Administration posted to CBP's website March 26, 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 addcvd.cbp.gov. (CBP occasionally adds backdated messages without otherwise indicating which message was added. ITT will include a message date in parentheses in such cases.)