Questions about how to define date of arrival and when the 15-day window to file a cargo release dominated CBP’s Oct. 1 call with the trade on issues related to the labor strike at U.S. East Coast and Gulf Coast ports.
Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT)
The Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) is CBP program which focuses on improving private companies' security regarding supply chains and reducing threats from terrorism.
Companies join C-TPAT voluntarily, making an agreement to work with CBP to protect supply chains, identify potential security gaps, and implement best practices insecurity measures. Applicants to C-TPAT must address a range of security concerns and create action plans to increase security throughout the supply chain.
C-TPAT members are considered lower risk when importing goods into the U.S., and are therefore less likely to be examined at a port of entry.
Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism Trade Compliance partners in good standing may have access to a new benefit, CBP says: the use of a foreign-trade zone to store goods subject to possible forced labor enforcement action.
CBP plans to expand its presence in Laredo, Texas, by opening a Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) office, according to Peter Touhy, director of the Miami C-TPAT field office within CBP’s Office of Field Operations.
Seko Logistics will still pursue its lawsuit challenging CBP's suspension of the company from Type 86 filing and the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism, despite CBP's conditional reinstatement of the customs broker, according to a June 4 statement from the company. The Chicago-area customs broker and freight forwarder says CBP still hasn’t fully provided its reasons for Seko’s initial suspension.
The Senate recently passed a bill that would set up a pilot program for non-asset-based third-party logistics providers and warehouses to participate in the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism program. The CTPAT Pilot Program Act of 2023 would require that CBP run the pilot program for 20 3PLs in total, of which 10 will be non-asset-based and 10 others will be entities that manage and execute logistics services with their “own warehousing assets and resources on behalf of its customers.” Both warehousing companies and non-asset-based 3PLs currently aren't allowed to join CTPAT.
Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Tom Carper, D-Del., introduced a bill that would create a pilot program under the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT) for third party logistics providers. The bill is similar to one that was introduced last year in the House (see 2203010076).
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published its fall 2020 regulatory agenda for CBP. The agenda includes no new trade actions.
CT Strategies hired Shawn Beddows as vice president of global services, the consulting group said in a news release. Beddows previously worked at the International Air Transport Association on cargo security matters in the Cargo Border Management Office. He was also the acting director of the CBP Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism Program and is an “Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Technical and Operational Adviser recognized by the World Customs Organization,” CT Strategies said.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published its spring 2020 regulatory agenda for CBP. Among the few trade-related changes to the agenda from the fall (see 1911220038) is the return of continuing education requirements for customs brokers. The possible regulatory action was previously listed on CBP's agenda but relegated in recent years to the agency's list of "Long-Term Actions."
As this year’s deadline for applications for the Voluntary Qualified importer Program approaches, formal interest in the Food and Drug Administration’s trusted trader scheme for food importers is nearly non-existent, despite high hopes from the agency when it was announced several years ago. Unclear benefits, a high cost of participation and a multitude of barriers to entry are among several issues keeping importers away, experts on importing food say.