U.S. Customs and Border Protection is extending the comment period to June 20, 2012 for an existing information collection concerning the Application to use the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE). CBP proposes to extend the expiration date of this information collection with no change to the burden hours or to the information collected.

Over the last few years, the existing technology development and acquisition activities within U.S. Customs and Border Protection have grown relatively rapidly reflecting their importance in overall border and security strategy, said CBP in a May 17 notice. Given these developments, former CBP Commissioner Alan Bersin created the Office of Technology Innovation and Acquisition (OTIA) to establish better governance and integration of applied technology and acquisition efforts to more fully complement the mission and support frontline personnel. OTIA is headed by Assistant Commissioner, Mark Borkowski.

In the May 16, 2012 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (Vol. 46, No. 21), CBP published notice that it is withdrawing its proposed revocation of a ruling on plastic recorder musical instruments due to its receipt of adverse comment. CBP also published a notice that it is withdrawing its proposed modification of a ruling on Acetyl L-Carnitine Hydrochloride, as its classification is being litigated.

In a report on improving U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s detection and deterrence of antidumping and countervailing duty evasion, the Government Accountability Office urged CBP to create a policy and a mechanism for information sharing among ports regarding the use of single transaction bonds (STB) and implement a plan to systematically track and report on AD/CV duty evasion, and said the International Trade Administration should provide advance notice of issuance of liquidation instructions in order to allow CBP to better manage resources. The report, entitled “Antidumping and Countervailing Duties: Management Enhancements Needed to Improve Efforts to Detect and Deter Duty Evasion”, was requested by Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME).

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said May 17, 2012, since the implementation of ACE as the system of record for the Foreign Trade Zone program, the edit described in the FT 40 record in FTZ Chapter of the CATAIR is being enforced. The FT40 record states house bills are to be sent for air shipments only. If the MOT is other than 40 or 41, space fill.

A listing of recent antidumping and countervailing duty messages from the International Trade Administration posted to U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Web site as of May 17, 2012, along with the case number(s) and CBP message number, is provided below. The messages are available by searching on the listed CBP message number at http://addcvd.cbp.gov. (CBP occasionally adds backdated messages without otherwise indicating which message was added. ITT will include a message date in parentheses in such cases.)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has listed the goods of Colombia under the terms of HTS General Note 34 that are eligible for Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement (TPA) tariff rate quotas for the period May 15, 2012 - December 31, 2012.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection issued its instructions for the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement (CTPA), which takes effect for qualifying goods entered or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption on or after May 15, 2012. The notice gives an overview of the CTPA rules of origin, as well as instructions for handling "WCO tariff number" discrepancies. CBP also provides information on its process for verifying importer claims, the SPI "CO", post-importation claims and protests, etc.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will host an Industry Day May 22 at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, DC. The one day event, “Evolving Border Security and Trade Missions: Insights and Discussions with Industry,” will provide industry an opportunity to gain a better understanding of CBP’s operating environment and how it shapes the agency’s near and long-term strategies," said CBP in a press release.

A listing of recent antidumping and countervailing duty messages from the International Trade Administration posted to U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Web site as of May 16, 2012, along with the case number(s) and CBP message number, is provided below. The messages are available by searching on the listed CBP message number at http://addcvd.cbp.gov. (CBP occasionally adds backdated messages without otherwise indicating which message was added. ITT will include a message date in parentheses in such cases.)