CUSTOMS MAY EXTEND ADVANCE CARGO DATA RULES TO ALL TRANSPORT MODES

CUSTOMS MAY EXTEND ADVANCE CARGO DATA RULES TO ALL TRANSPORT MODES    Now that U.S. Customs has its new advance manifest regulation in place for inbound containerized ocean freight, the agency will turn its attention to the development of advance cargo filing rules for other transport modes.
   Under the Trade Act of 2002, Customs has the authority to promulgate regulations for mandatory advance electronic cargo information filing for both exports and imports in all transports modes.
   Andrew B. Maner, chief of staff in Customs’ Office of the Commissioner, told industry executives at the agency’s third annual Trade Symposium Friday that advanced electronic cargo information “helps us collectively achieve smarter borders and secure trade.”
   Customs plans to publish a Federal Register notice on Nov. 26 announcing a series of public meetings to address advance electronic cargo data requirements for each transport mode: air (Jan. 14), truck (Jan. 16), rail (Jan. 21), and ocean (outbound) (Jan. 23).
   The agency must issue regulations pertaining to advance export and import electronic data filing in all transport modes by Oct. 1, 2003.
   Customs said it would do its best to develop regulations that can be reasonably met by the shipping industry, while at the same time meeting the nation’s new border and transportation security requirements.