U.S. CUSTOMS WEIGHS COMMENTS ON 24-HOUR ADVANCE CARGO MANIFEST RULE

U.S. CUSTOMS WEIGHS COMMENTS ON 24-HOUR ADVANCE CARGO MANIFEST RULE    Douglas M. Browning, acting commissioner of the U.S. Customs Service, said his agency has taken into consideration the views of the trade in drafting the final rule to require manifest information 24 hours prior to loading of a U.S.-bound ship at non-U.S. ports.
   Browning told the Joint Industry Group, a coalition of corporations, trade associations and professionals involved in international trade, that Customs appreciated the trade’s input regarding the proposed rule. He also invited the industry to continue to work with Customs in developing safe and efficient global supply chains.
   Browning anticipates the final rule will be developed to allow the trade to comply within 90 days of publication.
   The senior Customs official also told the Joint Industry Group of the progress made by Customs in its efforts to maintain a healthy balance of security and trade facilitation in a post-Sept. 11 environment.
   “Browning noted that this balance is possible through initiatives such as Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT),” the Joint Industry Group said. He also acknowledged the costs businesses have incurred under the tightened security environment, and noted that Individual Self Assessment is one manner in which the U.S. Customs Service is “trying to provide something in return” for the importing community.
   Browning also discussed the Container Security Initiative, a program that aims to push out America’s borders by establishing a U.S. Customs presence in 20 “mega-ports” around the globe. In describing the progress of the CSI, Browning reported that 11 of the 20 ports have agreed to comply.
   Customs will continue working with capable ports around the world to build a “network where information can be shared,” he said.