U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site a second revised version of its trade update regarding Hurricane Katrina.
Licensed Customs Broker
Customs brokers are entities who assist importers in meeting federal requirements governing imports into the United States. Brokers can be private individuals, partnerships, associations or corporations licensed, regulated and empowered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Customs brokers oversee transactions related to customs entry and admissibility of merchandise, product classification, customs valuation, payment of duties, taxes, or other charges such as refunds, rebates, and duty drawbacks. To obtain a customs broker license, an individual must pass the U.S. Customs Broker License Exam. Customs brokers are not government employees and should not be confused with CBP officials. There are approximately 11,000 active licensed customs brokers in the United States.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site a trade update regarding Hurricane Katrina, highlights of which are provided below:
The State Department has issued a final rule, effective August 29, 2005, which makes various amendments to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) which are highlighted as follows:
According to The Journal of Commerce, the Intermodal Container Inspection System (ICIS), developed by a San Diego-based company and a Hong Kong container terminal association has been extended beyond its six-month trial run in order to give Department of Homeland Security officials and congressional staff more time to see the system in action. The article states that the ICIS project is designed to record data from a container and collect a gamma-ray image of its interior as the truck approaches the terminal gate. (See ITT's Online Archives or 08/10/05 news, 05081005 for earlier mention of this 100% scanning system.)(JoC Online, 08/26/05, www.joc.com )
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has scheduled the next Customs Broker License Examination for Monday, October 3, 2005.
American Shipper reports that in an abrupt change of policy, the U.S. State Department's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) will no longer approve export licenses for freight forwarders that have traditionally managed international shipments for American shippers of military technology. The article reports that the DDTC's policy is now that an applicant must be the entity who is selling the defense article to the designated recipient foreign company. (American Shipper, dated 08/08/05, ShippersNewswire@americanshipper.com )
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has recently posted to the Pilot Bond Centralization Program section of its Web site a July 8, 2005 guidance document entitled "Latest News and Developments." According to CBP, this document provides information about the Pilot Bond Centralization Program and current issues, policies, and procedures for processing bond applications.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site a July 2005 version of the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Application. According to CBP, this application consists of four documents: ACE Account Portal Power of Attorney, Terms and Conditions for Account Access of ACE Portal, Additional Account/Account Owner Information, and ACE Secure Data Portal Request to Participate.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site a new "Trade Engagement Biweekly Reports" which summarize topics discussed during workshops held to develop the business requirements for Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Release 5.
The FMC has issued three notices that either reissue ocean transportation intermediary (OTI) licenses, revoke OTI licenses, or list those applying for OTI licenses, as follows: