US Customs and Border Protection Spring Update

This alert brings you recent developments affecting importers at US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in time for the spring season.

CBP.gov Website Update

Recently, CBP updated its website. The update has given the website a new look, but has altered links to valuable information. To aid importers, here are updated links to important topics of interest (we note there is some overlap in topics because of the initial design of the website):

Please note that most of the items are under the “For the Trade Community” menu.

• Here is a handy section for rulings and other publications, including recently published rulings, Informed Compliance Publications and port codes (bottom right corner);
• Programs (including information on brokers, Importer Self Assessment (ISA), Penalties and Quotas);
• Information on the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE);
• Audits;
• Foreign Exchange Rates;
• Information on various trade topics (such as: CBP Form 7501 “Entry Summary” instructions; Drawback; Post Entry Amendment; and Reconciliation:
  • Entry Summary (this link lists several topics listed above);
  • Topics and Issues (such as the First Sale Rule, Lacey Act, and pipeline monthly entry processing);
  • Revenue Program (bonds, bill payments and periodic monthly statements);
  • Information on Trade Contacts (although there are fewer phone numbers than the old site)
• Information on C-TPAT;
• Here is a link to Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of Customs and Border Protection (COAC) information and other webinars.

New ACE Features Coming in April 2014: ACE DEPLOYMENT C

On April 5, 2014 CBP will deploy new ACE features that:

• Expand the Cargo Release foundation to the truck mode;
• Extend advanced Cargo Release functionality to the ocean and rail modes;
• Increase the number of entry summary validations in ACE; and
• Transition exports processing to the ACE platform via a re-engineered Automated Export System (AES).

Here is a link to more detailed information on ACE Deployment C.

For further information, please contact David Salkeld or any of our attorneys in the Arent Fox International Trade group.