CBP Announces Next COAC Meeting Date, Releases Agenda

CBP's Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee (COAC) will next meet March 29 in Seattle, CBP said in a notice. Comments are due in writing by March 24.

The COAC will hear from the following subcommittees on the topics listed below and then will review, deliberate and formulate recommendations on how to proceed on those topics:

• The Next Generation Facilitation Subcommittee will provide updates on its task forces and working groups, including an update on the progress of the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) 2.0 Working Group and the 21st Century Customs Framework (21CCF) Task Force, and it is expected there will be recommendations for the committee’s consideration in these areas. The One U.S. Government Working Group will provide an update on the work addressed this past quarter, which includes discussions with Partner Government Agencies and some of the legislative trade proposals stemming from the 21CCF Task Force and Focus Group. The Passenger Air Operations (PAO) Working Group will also have an update. This group aims to identify ways to modernize passenger processing rules and regulations, streamline the passenger experience at U.S. ports of entry, and identify challenges that affect operations. While this is a new group, the expectation is that recommendations will be developed and submitted for consideration at future COAC public meetings. The ECommerce Task Force will provide updates regarding its discussions this past quarter pertaining to duplicate messaging related to security and trade filings.
• The Rapid Response Subcommittee will provide updates from the Broker Modernization Working Group and the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) Working Group. The Broker Modernization Working Group currently meets monthly and continues to focus on the 19 CFR part 111 final rules relating to Modernization of the Customs Broker Regulations, Continuing Education for Licensed Customs Brokers, and Customs Broker Licensing Exams. The USMCA Working Group meets bi-weekly with the expectation that recommendations will be developed and submitted for consideration at an upcoming COAC public meeting. The current focus of this working group is to review the Chapter 7 articles of the USMCA and identify gaps in implementation between the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
• The Secure Trade Lanes Subcommittee will provide updates on its five active working groups: the newly re-formed Pipeline Working Group, the Export Modernization Working Group, the In-Bond Working Group, the Trade Partnership and Engagement Working Group, and the Cross-Border Recognition Working Group. The Pipeline Working Group plans to provide recommendations for the committee’s consideration at a future public meeting. The Export Modernization Working Group has continued its work on the electronic export manifest pilot program. The In-Bond Working Group will provide recommendations for the committee’s consideration and continue to focus on the implementation of previously submitted recommendations. The Trade Partnership and Engagement Working Group has focused its work on previous recommendations and benefits for Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism Trade Compliance partners. Lastly, the Cross-Border Recognition Working Group has developed recommendations for consideration at this quarter’s public meeting.
• The Intelligent Enforcement Subcommittee will provide updates on the work completed and topics discussed in its working groups. The Antidumping/Countervailing Duty (AD/CVD) Working Group will provide updates regarding its work and discussions on importer compliance with AD/CVD requirements. The Intellectual Property Rights Working Group (IPRWG) will provide updates relating to the development of a portal on the CBP IPR web page and interconnectivity with the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s (USPTO) trademark registration database. The Bond Working Group will report the ongoing discussions and status updates for eBond requirements. The Forced Labor Working Group will provide updates regarding its work and discussions regarding the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA).