MORE SHIPPING INDUSTRY INPUT SOUGHT FOR CUSTOMS DATA COLLECTION STUDY

MORE SHIPPING INDUSTRY INPUT SOUGHT FOR CUSTOMS DATA COLLECTION STUDY    Time is running out for the shipping industry to respond to a congressionally mandated U.S. Treasury study on how Customs data collection and recordkeeping requirements may be reduced and made more efficient.
   The Treasury Advisory Committee on Customs Commercial Operations’ Sub-committee on Import Data and Customs Entry has released a survey to 20 industry groups to disperse to their members of feedback.
   'The Treasury study was initiated by Congress in the 2000 Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Correction Act. “Congress requires the (Treasury) Secretary to consult with importers and a broad range of other interested parties in the performance of this study,” said Leslie K.B. Cazas, corporate manager of customs and international trade administration at Nissan. North America, and COAC Treasury Study Sub-committee chairman.
   COAC’s study consists of two parts: a quantitative and qualitative input. The quantitative part consists of 12 questions about a company’s costs of customs/import compliance and operations. The qualitative side calls for anecdotal input on six areas of customs entry data and record retention requirements to the U.S. shipping industry.
   Although the Treasury study is due for completion on May 5, COAC has set a May 18 deadline for survey submissions in hopes that Treasury will grant an extension for study input. The industry says that it’s behind on responding to the study because of last year’s election, holidays, and changes to staff at Treasury