CANADIAN FORWARDERS URGE U.S. CUSTOMS TO ALLOW CONFIDENTIALITY FOR NON-U.S. SHIPMENTS

CANADIAN FORWARDERS URGE U.S. CUSTOMS TO ALLOW CONFIDENTIALITY FOR NON-U.S. SHIPMENTS    The Canadian International Freight Forwarders Association has urged the U.S. Customs Service to grant an exemption from the shipment disclosure requirement of the new 24-hour manifest rule to protect the confidentiality of non-U.S. shippers and forwarders.
   The 24-hour rule, enforced since Feb. 2, requires detailed manifest data covering all U.S.-bound containerized cargoes as well as “freight remaining on board” at U.S. ports. This means that freight sent to Canadian ports on ships that call at U.S. ports first must be fully documented in manifests sent to U.S. Customs, including details on the name and address of the shipper and consignee, and a precise cargo description.
   In a letter sent to U.S. Customs, the Canadian International Freight Forwarders Association said: “We wish to express our concerns about the possible disclosure of the… detailed cargo manifest information.”
   “Sensitive non-U.S. trade information now falls under Section 1431a of the Tariff Act of 1930 and is subject to public disclosure along with U.S. import trade information,” said Tony Young, chairman of the seafreight committee of the Canadian forwarders body.
   Canadian forwarders also worry that they may not be treated as “person” in the United States and would therefore not be able to qualify for a proposed rule that would allow ocean carriers and non-vessel-operating common carriers to apply for confidential treatment of cargo manifest information on behalf of importers.
   U.S. NVOCC have also expressed concerns that information on their shipper customers will be publicized, and will allow competitors to go after their customers.
   The Canadian International Freight Forwarders Association questioned “how it could possibly be the intention of the U.S. government to allow the disclosure of third country, non-U.S. trade information into the public domain.”