U.S. Customs and Border Protection has announced that it has resolved communication problems at the CBP Data Center that affected ABI and EDI data for all FAST truck manifests and other ACE truck manifests (announced in CSMS #12-000097). Additionally, the CBP Network experienced intermittent connectivity issues affecting Virtual Private Network (VPN) connections to the CBP Mainframe environment (announced in CSMS #12-000098). CBP states this issue has been resolved and trade partners have reestablished connectivity. (CSMS #12-000099, dated 03/20/12)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is seeking additional comments by April 20, 2012 on an existing information collection on the requirements under the Tom Lantos Block Burmese JADE Act of 2008 for certain gemstones mined in Burma (Myanmar) or other countries and articles of jewelry containing such gemstones. CBP is proposing to extend the expiration date of this information collection with no change to the burden hours or to the information collected.
In the March 14, 2012 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (Vol. 46, No. 12), CBP issued a notice announcing that it has granted "Lever-Rule" protection1 to Eveready Battery Company, Inc.'s battery products bearing trademarks related to Energizer, Energizer Bunny Design, among others.
In the March 14, 2012 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (Vol. 46, No.12), CBP published two notices of its revocation of 10 rulings and treatment regarding the tariff classification of a porcelain travel coffee cup and hulled pumpkin seeds.
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 March 20, 2012, along with the case number(s) and CBP message number, is provided below. These messages are available by searching on the listed CBP message number at http://addcvd.cbp.gov.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement have issued the following releases on commercial trade and related issues:
On March 20, 2012, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Acting Deputy Commissioner Thomas Winkowski discussed the Air Cargo Advance Screening (ACAS) strategy with air cargo leaders at the annual 2012 AirCargo trade show and conference1. Winkowski handed out hard copies of the ACAS Strategic Plan, which sources state CBP plans to post on CBP.gov this week. While Winkowski stated that ACAS procedures will eventually become mandatory, he expects that the bulk of air cargo will move under ACAS compliance before the regulations are instated due excellent cooperation from companies.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection states that the Automated Commercial System (ACS) and Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) are now updated to accept entry summaries claiming U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement duty benefits. While the KFTA has been in effect since March 15, entry summary claims could not be filed in ACS or ACE until these systems were updated for the KFTA. CBP has previously stated that KFTA claims are made using the Special Program Indicator (SPI) "KR."
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has announced that the CBP Network is experiencing intermittent connectivity issues affecting Virtual Private Network (VPN) connections to the CBP Mainframe environment. CBP will issue a message when this issue has been resolved. (CSMS #12-000098, dated 03/20/12)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued the following releases on commercial trade and related issues: