Brokers, Forwarders Call on Congress to Modernize Drawback in Time for ACE
Congress should take up legislation now to simplify the drawback process or the “window for programming drawback simplification into the Automated Commercial Environment” will close, said trade groups in a letter to lawmakers. The letter was signed by American Association of Exporters and Importers and the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America, said the NCBFAA, which described the letter in a notice to members. Industry will have to file through ACE by 2016, the final stage of ACE implementation.
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There's "broad, bipartisan Congressional, executive branch, and industry support for drawback simplification legislation," the industry letter said, according to the NCBFAA. "We all recognize the value of adopting a more streamlined, efficient, and effective drawback regime that makes it easier for both the Federal Government and the private sector to administer use of this valuable, historic program." The trade groups didn't provide a copy of the letter.
The trade has been fighting for nearly 10 years to simplify drawback, said the memo. Customs Reauthorization bills in the past have included provisions to modernize and streamline drawback, but Congress has not passed that legislation since the Department of Homeland Security took on CBP in 2003. AAEI criticized some drawback provisions in the most recent Customs Reauthorization in the House, which surfaced at the end of the 112th Congress (see 13041001). House Ways and Means and Senate Finance staffers didn’t respond for comment. Drawback is likely to transition to automation in the future, nonetheless, CBP officials and industry members have said (see 14062019).