CBP Announces Next COAC Meeting Date, Releases Agenda

CBP's Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee (COAC) will next meet June 14 in Arlington, Virginia, CBP said in a notice. Comments are due in writing by June 9.

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. It is expected there will be recommendations for the committee’s consideration from the 21st Century Customs Framework (21CCF) Task Force and Focus Group, along with a close out report for this task force. The Customs Interagency Industry Working Group (CII) (formerly the One U.S. Government Working Group) will provide an update on the work addressed this past quarter, which included identifying possible Partner Government Agencies for representation on the working group and discussion of the legislative trade proposals stemming from the 21CCF Task Force and Focus Group. An update is expected on the progress of the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) 2.0 Working Group regarding its review of the CBP ACE 2.0 Concept of Operations processes. The E-Commerce Task Force will provide updates regarding its discussions this past quarter pertaining to duplicate messaging related to security and trade filings. The Passenger Air Operations (PAO) Working 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 Rapid Response Subcommittee will provide updates from the Broker Modernization Working Group and the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) Chapter 7 Working Group. The Broker Modernization Working Group 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 Chapter 7 Working Group meets bi-weekly. Its current focus 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 Export Modernization Working Group, the In-Bond Working Group, the Trade Partnership and Engagement Working Group, the Cross-Border Recognition Working Group, and the Pipeline Working Group. The Export Modernization Working Group has continued its work on the electronic export manifest pilot program and will provide updates on its progress. The In-Bond Working Group may provide recommendations for the committee’s consideration and will provide updates on the implementation of previously submitted recommendations. The Trade Partnership and Engagement Working Group has focused its work on previous recommendations to refine the language of possible benefits for Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism Trade Compliance partners and may provide additional recommendations for the committee’s consideration. The Cross-Border Recognition and Pipeline working groups will provide updates on their work toward developing recommendations for the committee’s consideration.
• 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 Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) web page and to CBP’s implementation of the IPRWG’s past recommendations concerning the automation of detention and seizure. The Bond Working Group will report on 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) and anticipates making recommendations for the committee’s consideration during the meeting.