SCOTTSDALE, Arizona -- CBP is looking at a wide range of options for meeting the goals of the March executive order (see 1704030033) meant to resolve issues of unpaid antidumping and countervailing duties, said Troy Riley, executive director-Commercial Targeting and Enforcement in the CBP Office of Trade. Riley, who is leading implementation of the executive order, discussed several things being considered, including suspending importer of record numbers that haven't been used in years and new bonding schemes, during a panel on May 24 at the West Coast Trade Symposium. Brenda Smith, executive assistant commissioner for the CBP Office of Trade, alluded to the likelihood of additional orders along the same lines. "My guess is we have not seen the end of" trade-focused executive orders, said Smith, who moderated the panel.

SCOTTSDALE, Arizona -- Enhanced trade enforcement provisions, the ability to collaborate on trade facilitation issues and “modernized rules of origin” are among issues CBP would like to see included in NAFTA negotiations, Acting CBP Commissioner Kevin McAleenan said during the West Coast Trade Symposium on May 24. “There's a lot of ways CBP can contribute to that dialogue,” he said. “The way this is unfolding with the importance and access being placed on CBP, I think we'll have that opportunity.” McAleenan also said the timing for the final deployment of ACE should be "announced pretty soon."

The Trump administration released its proposed fiscal year 2018 budget (here). The request includes increased funding for CBP (here), with a portion of that going toward financing border infrastructure, including a “physical wall along the southern border.” The dedicated funding line for ACE would be drawn down to $3 million, from $22 million infiscal year 2017 and $133 million in fiscal year 2016. Automation modernization would instead be funded in a basket category for procurement. The budget proposal would also extend user fee programs authorized by 19 USC 58c, including the Merchandise Processing Fee, through the end of 2027. The fees are currently set to expire on Sept. 30, 2025.

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

International Trade Today is providing readers with some of the top stories for May 15-19 in case they were missed.

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

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

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

A lack of clarity on "a unique identifier for supply chain operators crossing borders" is limiting the potential for trusted trader programs internationally, CBP Acting Commissioner Kevin McAleenan said during a May 17 speech at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Global Supply Chain Summit. "We've been working so hard to recognize Authorized Economic Operator programs globally with partners, we've entered into Mutual Recognition Agreements, we're intending to expand them," but "they are not having dramatic operational value for our trade partnership," he said. McAleenan has been pushing to standardize unique identifiers (see 1612020024).

CBP answered questions on which blanket declarations are available in ACE in its list of frequently asked questions posted on May 17 (here). Blanket declarations through the ACE portal, which can be viewed nationally by CBP, are an option for Affidavit of Manufacture, Importer Certifying Statement, Non-Reimbursement Blanket Statement (Antidumping/Countervailing Duty), and NAFTA Certificate of Origin. CBP also provided information on Partner Government Agency participation in the Automated Export System.