COAC Announces Next Meeting Date, Releases Agenda

The Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee for CBP holds its next quarterly meeting Dec. 11 remotely and in person in Washington, D.C., at 1 p.m. EST, CBP said in a notice. Comments are due by Dec. 6.

The COAC will hear from the following subcommittees on the topics listed below and then will review, deliberate and formulate recommendations on how to proceed on those topics:

• The Intelligent Enforcement Subcommittee will provide updates on the work completed and topics discussed in its working groups as well as present proposed recommendations for the COAC’s consideration.  The Antidumping/Countervailing Duty (AD/CVD) Working Group will provide updates regarding its work and discussions on importer compliance with AD/CVD and other trade remedy measures and requirements.  The Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Process Modernization Working Group anticipates providing updates concerning progress associated with its proposed recommendations specific to IPR enforcement and facilitation.  The Forced Labor Working Group (FLWG) will provide updates on continued discussions regarding trade outreach, clarification of requirements, and proposed recommendations. The FLWG reports that it will continue to provide CBP with input as CBP rolls out a case management portal. The Bond Working Group remained on hiatus status since the last public meeting.
• The Next Generation Facilitation Subcommittee will provide updates on all its existing working groups. The Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) 2.0 Working Group was focused on completing discussions on the Concept of Operations document regarding scenarios for Electronic Export Manifests (EEM) and a portal for infrequent importers, along with the status of previous recommendations proposed earlier this term. The Broker Modernization Working Group (BMWG) remains dedicated to the enhancement of the end user experience and improving the administration of the Customs Broker Licensing Exam (CBLE). This quarter, the Modernized Entry Processes Working Group (MEPWG) continues its National Customs Automation Program (NCAP) discussions and will provide updates on its efforts concerning the reconciliation test. The remaining working group, the Customs Interagency Industry Working Group (CIIWG), wasn't active this past quarter but will provide a report on topics that the working group will focus on in the coming quarter.
• The Secure Trade Lanes Subcommittee will provide updates on its seven active working groups: Centers, Cross-Border Recognition, De Minimis, Export Modernization, FTZ/Warehouse, the Pipeline, and Trade Partnership and Engagement. The Centers Working Group consolidated its review of the Centers’ communications functions into the Structure and Operations sub-working groups. The Centers Working Group as a whole, through these two sub-working groups, continues to evaluate the structure and operations of the Centers to enhance their effectiveness, increase transparency, and build stronger communities within CBP and with the Trade. The Cross-Border Recognition Working Group is evaluating whether all deliverables outlined in the statement of work have been achieved to determine next steps. CBP has formed a task force to assist the De Minimis Working Group regarding the time frame for submitting de minimis shipments. The working group, via the task force, intends to present proposed recommendations at the December quarterly COAC meeting. The Export Modernization Working Group has continued its work on the electronic export manifest pilot program and the effects of progressive filing by the shipper to continuously update export information on successive dates, rather than on a specific date. The Export Modernization Working Group is also working on previous proposed recommendations to determine if new proposed recommendations need to be made and is reviewing the status of proposed recommendations that have not been finalized. The Drawback Task Force, within the Export Modernization Working Group, has continued discussions around COAC approved recommendations that are in the process of being implemented from last quarter. They are also conducting an analysis of program statistics in the areas of streamlining drawback ruling processes, reviewing compliance issues, and examining areas to maximize resources. The FTZ/Warehouse Working Group continues to review 19 CFR part 146, explore areas in which the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT) program can be expanded, and consider how to modernize ACE functionality for Foreign Trade Zones (FTZs), and it anticipates presenting proposed recommendations for the COAC’s consideration at the December public meeting. The Pipeline Working Group has continued discussing the most appropriate commodities for and potential users of Distributed Ledger Technology to engage in the contemplated pilot for tracking pipeline-borne goods. The Global Interoperability Standard (GIS) Information Collection Federal Register Notice (FRN) was published on Sept. 3 (89 FR 71381), and comments were accepted through Nov. 4. The Pipeline Working Group has no proposed recommendations for this quarter.