According to articles in Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Today, CBP's National Targeting Center (NTC), established on October 21, 2001, is the centralized coordination point for all of CBP's anti-terrorism efforts. The NTC provides target-specific information to field offices and is continuously operational. In January 2003, the NTC moved to a new facility in Northern Virginia.
On March 22, 2004, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced additional security initiatives aimed at further reducing vulnerabilities to transit and rail systems. New initiatives to be undertaken will target three specific areas: threat response support capability, public awareness and participation, and future technological innovations.
On June 8, 2004, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Bureau of Census (Census) plan to deliver a redesign of the commodity module of the Automated Export System (AES).
The World Customs Organization (WCO) has issued an amending supplement (No. 4, dated August 2003) to the Harmonized System Explanatory Notes (ENs). (Although not binding on U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the ENs are followed by CBP whenever possible.) (This is Part III of a multi-part series of summaries on this amending supplement. See future issues of ITT for additional summaries.)
(a) preliminary AD rate of zero
On March 18, 2004, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced that it had entered into a new partnership with Florida state House and Senate leaders and with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to strengthen security for personnel at Florida's seaports.
The Journal of Commerce Online (JoC Online) reports that the World Customs Organization (WCO) is urging its member nations to work together in an effort to boost transportation security in the wake of the Madrid commuter train bombings. WCO called for its members to implement without delay anti-terror measures it has developed. WCO also stated that it will speed up the pace of work conducted by its specialized bodies with regard to international transport security, physical security of containers, effective customs controls, etc. (JoC Online Pub 03/18/04, www.joc.com)
CBP Posts List of Companies/Persons Offering Air AMS Communication and Data Processing Services, Etc
U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP's) Office of Automated Commercial Systems (ACS) has posted a notice to its Web site containing (a) a list, as of March 4, 2004, of companies/persons offering Air Automated Manifest System (AMS) communication and data processing services to the trade community, and (b) the Air AMS Respondent Checklist, as follows:
On March 22, 2004, Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta addressed the National Industrial Transportation League (NITL) meeting in Arlington, VA. Highlights from Mineta's remarks include (partial list):
The World Customs Organization (WCO) has issued an amending supplement (No. 4, dated August 2003) to the Harmonized System Explanatory Notes (ENs). (Although not binding on U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the ENs are followed by CBP whenever possible.) (This is Part II of a multi-part series of summaries on this amending supplement. See future issues of ITT for additional summaries.)