U.S. CUSTOMS CONSIDERS CHANGES TO IMPORT ENTRY PROCESS

   U.S. Customs says it wants to review the current import entry process to see if it can be simplified and improved.
   The basic entry process at Customs was left untouched in the 1993
Customs Modernization and Informed Compliance Act, although some additions were made, such as reconciliation and periodic payment.
   "If we can put more flexibility in the process, it could be very helpful
to both Customs and the trade," said John Durant, director of commercial rulings at Customs.
   Customs expects to release its plan for a simpler entry process by early December. The agency will then hold a dialogue with the industry from December to March 2000.
   Customs hopes to present its proposed changes to Congress by April. The goal is to attach the changes to a miscellaneous trade bill.
   "If the trade isn’t there to support this, however, it’s not going to
happen," Durant said.