CUSTOMS RELEASES NVO CONCEPT PAPER FOR COMMENT

CUSTOMS RELEASES NVO CONCEPT PAPER FOR COMMENT    U.S. Customs has released a proposal that outlines how the non-vessel-operating common carriers may use the agency’s Automated Export System to file their export transportation data.
   The paper — “Proposed Enhancements to the Vessel Transportation Module to Include Non-Vessel-Operating Common Carrier Transportation Data” — was the result of a year of work between the agency and small focus group of NVOs.
   The group that generated the concept paper consisted of representatives neutral, freight forwarder-affiliated, trucker and niche NVOs and representatives from Customs and the Census Bureau.
   Under the proposal, NVOs will electronically transmit booking and manifest information to AES. Electronic transmission of the data to AES ensures confidentiality of the NVO’s proprietary data and promotes consistency in reporting, Customs said.
   The agency said it would help NVOs to achieve a higher level of compliance that may result in reduced liquidated damages/penalties. Additional benefits to the NVOs are reduced costs for staff hours spent in preparing the manifests, delivering export documents to carriers and Customs and storing paper documents.
   Customs would like to receive comments about the proposal from the NVO industry by Nov. 30. The complete proposal is available on Customs’ Web site at https://www.customs.gov under heading “What’s New.”