A Department of Homeland Security funding lapse will not stop "front line cargo operations" and import and entry specialists will continue to review entries during that time, said CBP Commissioner Gil Kerlikowske. Kerlikowske discussed the looming shutdown, a result of a fight over DHS funding in congress, with members of the trade industry and reporters in a Feb. 26 call. Despite going without a paycheck during the shutdown, CBP personnel will also be available to answer questions for importers and brokers, he said. DHS funding will stop Feb. 28 unless congress allocates more funding before then.

MIAMI -- As countries across the globe move ahead with trade facilitation and modernization initiatives, governments can’t relent in the drive to remove paperwork from all customs and regulatory filing, said several North American and European trade logistics officials at the International Chamber of Commerce and the U.S. Council for International Business symposium on Feb. 23. Automation is indispensable in those initiatives, said the officials.

CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related issues:

MIAMI -- There's no indication that importers and brokers will not be prepared for the rapidly approaching Automated Commercial Environment deadlines, said CBP Commissioner Gil Kerlikowske in a sit-down interview with International Trade Today on Feb. 24 at the International Chamber of Commerce and U.S. Council for International Business symposium. Kerlikowske said he expects only a “tiny” percentage of traders and brokers will not be ready for the required use of ACE. As of May 1, CBP will require ACE for all electronic manifest filings, while all electronic cargo release and entry summary filings will be required in ACE as of Nov. 1.

CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related issues:

MIAMI -- The U.S. is aiming to get two-thirds of World Trade Organization members to ratify the Trade Facilitation Agreement and put the pact's implementation into force by December, said Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for the WTO Mark Linscott at the International Chamber of Commerce and U.S. Council for International Business trade facilitation symposium on Feb. 23. The plan to reach that goal focuses on private sector influence on WTO members and diplomatic pressure through the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the G20 and other international forums, said Linscott.

The coming transition to the Automated Commercial Environment may prove difficult for all involved, CBP Commissioner Gil Kerlikowske said in a letter of appreciation to the trade industry released by the agency (here). CBP is making "important progress" as the first of three ACE-related deadlines approaches, he said in the Jan. 29 letter (here). As of May 1, CBP will require ACE for all electronic manifest filing. "We recognize ACE is driving changes to business practices and requires major investment on your part," he said in the letter. "The next year will be challenging for industry and government, as we fully transition to ACE." Kerlikowske encouraged companies not yet using ACE to make the transition "immediately" in order to be prepared for required use of ACE. The agency will require ACE for all electronic cargo released and entry summary filing beginning Nov. 1. Agency officials recently discussed some of the operational challenges related to the transition (see 1502100055).

CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related issues:

A furniture importer is currently pursuing two federal court cases related to the assessment of antidumping duties on an entry where it was incorrectly listed as importer of record, International Trade Today has learned. Following a CBP ruling that held it liable for payment of the 216.01% duty applicable under the AD duty order on wooden bedroom furniture from China (see 1501290028), Lifestyle Furniture filed suit in November at the Court of International Trade to challenge CBP’s denial of its protest. Just under a month later, Lifestyle sued the customs broker that apparently made the mistake on entry documentation, Nestor Reyes, in North Carolina Middle U.S. District Court.

Expeditors and CBP will work together on a number of coming roundtables to discuss preparation for the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE), said Expeditors in a press release (here). CBP will hold a number of such roundtables around the country ahead of the Nov. 1 deadline for required use of ACE for entry summary and cargo release information.