CBP posted documents from the User Fee Advisory Committee conference call on Aug. 29 (see 14090217). The documents include a call summary (here), and Process Improvements Subcommittee executive (here) and CBP reports (here).
Customs Rulings Online Search System (CROSS) was updated Oct. 17 with 38 rulings, bringing the total number of searchable rulings to 184,167. The most recent ruling is dated 10/15/14.
CBP began accepting donation proposals as part of its Donation Acceptance Program, under which the agency may accept donations from the private sector and other government agencies to develop its port infrastructure (see 14100216). Donated money, property, and services may be used for activities related to the construction, alteration, operations, and maintenance of an existing CBP or GSA port of entry, including land acquisition, design, and the deployment of new equipment and technology. The program was authorized by the Consolidated Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2014 (see 14011423).
A listing of recent antidumping and countervailing duty messages from the Commerce Department posted to CBP's website Oct. 17, 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 http://adcvd.cbp.dhs.gov/adcvdweb.
CBP New York/Newark released statistics in a pipeline notice showing the "cycle time measurement" of Centralized Examination Stations from April through October. The cycle times refer to the time from ocean container arrival, as transmitted via the Automated Commercial Environment, through final examination completion release date.
CBP and Mexico's Tax Administration Service signed a mutual recognition arrangement (MRA) on Oct. 17, said CBP in a press release. The MRA allows the two countries' customs agencies to consider an importer's participation within either trusted trader program -- Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism in the U.S. and New Certified Companies Scheme in Mexico. “This is a significant milestone for both the United States and Mexico and the facilitation of secure trade between the two countries,” said Commissioner Gil Kerlikowske. CBP previously said it planned to reach an MRA with Mexico by the end of the year (see 14061619). "The goal of the mutual recognition arrangement is to link the two industry partnership programs, so that together they create a unified and sustainable security posture that can assist in securing and facilitating global cargo trade," said the agency.
Debbie Augustin, previously with the CBP Office of Information and Technology, will take over the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Business Office as the acting executive director, said Brenda Smith, assistant commissioner for the Office of International Trade and the previous head of the ACE, during the Western Cargo Conference on Oct. 17. Among the reasons Augustin is a good fit in that role is that she's an "absolute pitbull on deadlines," said Smith. Glen Vereb will be the acting executive director for the Office of Regulations and Rulings, said Smith. Vereb, previously executive director of the Border Security and Trade Compliance Division, takes over for Sandra Bell, who was promoted to deputy assistant commissioner (see 14100714).
A listing of recent antidumping and countervailing duty messages from the Commerce Department posted to CBP's website Oct. 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 http://adcvd.cbp.dhs.gov/adcvdweb.
CBP posted a recording (here) and presentation (here) from an Oct. 9 webinar on updates to the Focused Assessment audit program.
CBP is putting together a Lacey Act import working group to consider the technical requirements necessary for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to take part in the International Trade Data System, said CBP in a CSMS message. The Lacey Act working group, to be part of the Trade Support Network, "consists of members of the trade whose businesses are regulated by the APHIS Lacey Act Program, trade software developers who support the business processes, as well as representatives from the Lacey Act Program," and CBP, it said. Those interested in participating should email Frank Korpusik at frank.j.korpusik@cbp.dhs.gov by Oct. 24, said CBP.