INDUSTRY GROUPS REACH CONCENSUS IN CUSTOMS? ENTRY REVISION PROJECT

INDUSTRY GROUPS REACH CONCENSUS IN CUSTOMSÆ ENTRY REVISION PROJECT    Representatives of the U.S. Business Alliance for Customs Modernization (BACM), the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America, the Joint Industry Group and the American Association of Exporters and Importers established common views on revising the Customs import entry process Tuesday at a “trade summit” in Washington.
   The groups agreed to four areas of change in the import entry process:
   * Minimal data requirements at time of cargo release.
   * Periodic filing of aggregate import information.
   * Reasonable data correction time (up to 18 months).
   * “Finalization of declaration” in 12 months. They also supported the “credit card statement” concept for paying duties.
   The industry groups will integrate these points into their individual position papers to Customs. BACM plans to deliver its statement to Customs today.
   Industry officials say it's a monumental step for different industry groups to agree on major Customs operational issues. “The only reason it’s a big deal is because we don’t do it more often,” said Jon H. Kent, Washington representative of the NCBFAA.
   Customs initiated the Entry Revision Project last year to bring the agency’s processes more line with today’s business practices.
   Customs and the industry groups hope to incorporate proposed entry revisions into a miscellaneous trade bill in May.