The State Department has issued a notice extending the comment period until January 7, 2007 (from December 18, 2006) and provides an additional venue through which to make comments (via email to PassportCardComments@state.gov) on its October 2006 proposed rule that would set forth the format and requirements for obtaining PASS Cards (also referred to as passport cards). The State Department has previously stated that PASS Cards would serve as a lower cost means of establishing identity and nationality for U.S. citizens in the following limited situations: (1) when crossing U.S. land borders, and (2) when traveling by sea between the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, or Bermuda.
Notable CROSS rulings
According to The Journal of Commerce, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Basham stated at CBP's 7th Annual Trade Symposium that the agency intends to implement rules requiring importers to provide additional data to identify high-risk ocean shipments - the 10 2 data - by the end of summer 2007. Basham stated that Customs is not going to implement all the data requirements at once, but will phase them in to minimize their impact. (JoC, dated 12/14/06, available at www.joc.com )
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site Amendment 4 (December 2006) to the Customs Automated Manifest Interface Requirements (CAMIR) for air (CAMIR-Air).
CBP has issued an ABI administrative message stating that the port of Chicago offered limited services on December 1, 2006 due to inclement weather. CBP states that it is granting all filers filing entry on December 1 a snow day. CBP adds that it is extending one additional day without penalty for the filing of payment of entry summaries due on that day. (CBP Adm: 06-1201, dated 12/04/06, available at http://www.brokerpower.com/cgi-bin/adminsearch/admmsg.view.pl?article=2006/2006-1201.ADM)
U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the State Department have issued a final rule, effective January 23, 2007, that implements the first stage of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), in order to require, with limited exceptions, all U.S. citizens and nonimmigrant aliens from Canada, Bermuda, and Mexico to present a valid passport, when departing from or entering the U.S. by air from within the Western Hemisphere.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site an Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) frequently asked question (FAQ) document on electronic manifests (e-Manifests).
In September 2006, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) issued an interim rule which states that as of November 24, 2006, Canada will no longer be exempt from agricultural quarantine and inspection (AQI) user fees for commercial trucks1, commercial vessels, commercial railroad cars, commercial aircraft, and international air passengers, which enter the U.S. from Canada. (See ITT's Online Archives or 09/07/06 news, 06090720, for BP summary of APHIS interim rule eliminating Canada's exemptions.)
The State Department has issued a proposed rule that would set forth the format and requirements for obtaining PASS Cards (also referred to as passport cards), which would serve as a lower cost means of establishing identity and nationality for U.S. citizens in the following limited situations: (1) when crossing U.S. land borders, and (2) when traveling by sea between the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean or Bermuda.
The Journal of Commerce (JoC) reports that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is focusing on obtaining advance business data and developing next-generation radiation and imaging technology instead of the development of an electronic security device that can alert inspectors to possible tampering with a container's contents. JoC explains that CBP has shifted focus as the "smart box" initiative is facing technological, economic, and policy challenges. (JoC Pub November 2006, www.joc.com)
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a notice stating that a World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement panel (DSP) has been established at the request of Antigua and Barbuda to examine whether the U.S. has implemented the recommendations and rulings of the WTO's Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) in a dispute involving measures affecting the cross-border supply of gambling and betting services.