"Daily Update on Capitol Hill Trade Actions" is a regular feature of International Trade Today. The following are brief summaries of recent Capitol Hill actions.
CBP has issued a CSMS message stating that it has come to its attention that some surety companies and some customs brokers, acting as agents for sureties, are using CBP 301 (customs bond) forms which include extraneous information such as "Power of Attorney Limited to [dollar amount]." All sureties and brokers are instructed to discontinue, effective immediately, use of any CBP 301 form which has such extraneous information. (See ITT's Online Archives or 02/05/08 news, 08020505, for BP summary announcing that CBP would reject CBP 301 bond forms or bond riders submitted with extraneous liability limitation language effective February 11, 2008.) (CSMS 09-000209, dated 04/29/09, available at http://apps.cbp.gov/csms/viewmssg.asp?Recid=17599&page=&srch_argv=09-000209&srchtype=all&btype=&sortby=&sby)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a CSMS on the expansion of ACE entry summary filing.
In response to a request from the Ranking Members1 of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and its Energy and Environment Subcommittee, Committee Chair Waxman (D) and Subcommittee Chair Markey (D) sent a letter in which they announced that there will be an additional day of hearings on the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (ACES) discussion draft on May 1, 2009.
CBP has posted a notice on the Broker Self-Assessment Outreach Pilot (BSA pilot program) that it recently announced it would be launching. (See ITT's Online Archives or 04/27/09 news, 09042710, for BP summary announcing that CBP is seeking applicants for the BSA pilot.) (Notice, dated 04/27/09, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/trade_programs/bsa/bsa_pilot.xml)
CBP has issued a CSMS message stating that due to unforeseen circumstances the Baltimore Trade Support Field Office, ABI Client Representative Office, will be closed Tuesday April 28, 2009. For assistance, the trade can contact the Charlotte, NC; JFK; or Newark, NJ Client Representative Offices (see CSMS message for phone numbers.) (CSMS 09-000206, dated 04/28/09, available at http://apps.cbp.gov/csms/viewmssg.asp?Recid=17596&page=&srch_argv=09-000206&srchtype=all&btype=&sortby=&sby)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a CSMS message announcing that on April 25, 2009, the Automated Commercial Environment was modified to accept all Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative compliant travel document types.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano recently addressed the Border Trade Alliance's International Conference. Highlights of her written remarks and responses to questions include:
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a general notice seeking volunteers for the Broker Self-Assessment Outreach Pilot (BSA pilot program, also referred to as the Broker Compliance Management program).
CBP has posted April 22, 2009 versions of the following previously posted ACE Customs Automated Manifest Interface Requirements (CAMIR-Air) documents: Appendix A - Codes and the Air AMS Message Types Chapter. These documents are posted for informational purposes and final versions of all ACE CAMIR-Air documents are expected soon. (Notice, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/automated/modernization/ace_edi_messages/camir_air/)