U.S. Customs opens Auto and Aerospace CEE

   Qualified automotive and aerospace companies now have the ability to receive centralized processing of their imports at U.S. Customs’ latest Center of Excellence and Expertise.
   The agency said the new integrated industry center opened in Detroit on Tuesday, four months after first being announced. An announcement on the start of a new Center of Excellence and Expertise for the petroleum, natural gas and minerals industry in Houston, which was also promised in May, is expected later this month, according to a Customs and Border Protection statement. 
   CBP already has CEEs in place for the electronics and pharmaceutical industries.
   The CEEs are being created to smooth cargo entry for trusted shippers in the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism and Importer Self-Assessment programs that have been pre-vetted for their strong security and compliance practices.
   The idea is to provide shippers with more predictable clearance by routing entry summary documents to industry specialists who can ensure guidelines for inspecting shipments are followed in ports around the nation and redundant paperwork isn’t required because the shipment patterns are already understood. The CEEs also serve as a single point of contact for traders and other border agencies to quickly resolve problems and provide assistance on how the best ways to comply with various trade rules. 
   Revenue collection and security exams will continue to take place at ports of entry.
   “The Center of Excellence and Expertise is an innovative approach to managing trade by both industry and accounts,” Kevin McAleenan, assistant commissioner for field operations, said. “Leveraging the right mix of CBP skill sets in the center brings together an environment that promotes industry expertise and collaboration.” – Eric Kulisch