CUSTOMS, INDUSTRY KICK OFF ERP MEETINGS TODAY

CUSTOMS, INDUSTRY KICK OFF ERP MEETINGS TODAY    U.S. Customs and the shipping industry kick off the first of three meetings in Washington today to analyze how the government could modernize its import entry process.
   As many as 28 executives from 16 leading industry groups are expected to attend the two-day meeting. These executives represent industries such as customs brokers, importers, surety bonds, foreign trade zones, customs attorneys and express carriers.
   “You have to show up at the table,” said Alan Atkinson of the Joint Industry Group, which is sending three executives to the ERP meeting. “We’re there to cooperate.”
   Customs proposed revising the import entry in December 1999. A third draft of the so-called Entry Revision Project was released to the industry for feedback on Nov. 30 at Customs Trade Symposium in Washington.
   Customs Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly said the agency wants to take “a clean-sheet approach to its process and ERP is a part of that.”
   The next two meetings are scheduled for Feb. 13-14 and March 20-21. A fourth meeting date has been set for April 11-12, if needed.