GETA SUBMITS SOLUTIONS PAPER ON ?CUSTOMS BUSINESS?

GETA SUBMITS SOLUTIONS PAPER ON ôCUSTOMS BUSINESSö    A working committee of the Global Electronic Trade Alliance, an industry trade association, on Friday presented an 'Options/Solutions' paper to Customs' Office of Regulations and Rulings on the issue of what defines “Customs business” and its relevance in the agency’s rulings and regulations.
   The committee’s proposal offers changes, such as: the inclusion of an exception to compliance advice given by a corporation to its related companies; and the broadening the definition of “for one’s own account” to include those transactions on behalf of any related company, as defined in 19 C.F.R. 152.102 (g).
   Copies of the paper were also sent to the American Association of Exporters and Importers, the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America, the Joint Industry Group, the American Bar Association Customs Law Committee, the Business Alliance for Customs Modernization, and the National Council on International Trade Development.
   “Both of these recommended changes offer a simple solution to this issue, which can be accomplished simply and effectively by Customs publishing an expedited Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Federal Register,” said Jim Finnegan, director of global trade services from Kulicke & Soffa, and a member of the Treasury Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of Customs.