CUSTOMS PROPOSES RAIL MANIFEST RULES

CUSTOMS PROPOSES RAIL MANIFEST RULES    The U.S. Customs Service is proposing that railroads transporting goods from Mexico or Canada submit manifest information 24 hours prior to departing a foreign terminal as part of the government’s effort to use electronic information to sift through cargo shipments for those posing a potential terrorist threat before they reach the border.
   Customs posted its preliminary ideas for receiving rail manifest data on its Web site on January 17. The agency is holding a series of public meetings in Washington with industry groups involved in international trade as it seeks to meet a congressional mandate requiring companies to submit information about their cargo prior it arrives or leaves the United States. A meeting to gain feedback from railroads, intermodal carriers, freight intermediaries and shippers how to implement the advanced information collection requirements is scheduled Tuesday. Reaction to advance electronic manifest timetables for air and truck cargo released last week was very strong, with air and motor carries, as well as shippers, complaining that the rules would disrupt trade that depends on quick cycle times.
   The rail manifest rules, as initially outlined to industry groups, appear to differ from those of other modes in that ocean, air and truck carriers are required to electronically file manifests prior to loading rather than departure. Customs will require manifests for exports to be received no later than 8 hours prior to loading, according to the proposal.
   An Automated Manifest System for rail already exists and is used by most major rail carriers, but the Trade Act of 2000 will make its use mandatory by all railroads shortly after Oct. 1.