COAC's Export Working Group Prioritizing Full Launch of EEM

The new export working group for CBP’s Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee hopes to make progress on launching electronic export manifest, calling it “one of our primary areas of focus.” Working group member David Corn, executive vice president for Comstock & Theakston, said the group hopes to eventually launch EEM for “all transportation modes.”

“We'll be reviewing post departure requirements, otherwise known as option four, and reviewing data elements for export as we proceed forward,” Corn said during the first meeting of COAC’s 16th term on March 31. “It’s a goal that we’ve been working for for a long time.”

Thomas Overacker, CBP’s executive director of cargo and conveyance security, said the agency has extended its existing EEM pilots and encourages carriers to participate as the government moves closer to finalizing the system. “I'm excited to announce that we did not stand still since last June, and we are working diligently on the regulatory process so that we can finalize and implement electronic export manifest for all modes,” Overacker said. “We look forward to working with you closely on that.”

He said the committee has specifically “made progress with respect to enforcement” but didn’t give specifics. "It's important that we have a rational and meaningful approach to enforcement,” Overacker said. “We will be working closely with our interagency partners, whether it's the [Bureau of industry and Security] or Census and of course, [Homeland Security Investigations], to ensure that we're able to expertly facilitate exports as well and as efficiently as we do imports.”

CBP has been under pressure to move faster on EEM after delays have pushed back its full release (see 2110180038). The agency has been drafting an announcement to mandate the use of EEM since at least July 2021 (see 2107220036).