Secretary Napolitano and Korean Minister of Justice Jae-Jin Kwon Announce Global Entry Agreement
U.S. Customs & Border Protection / www.cbp.gov
Washington— Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano today joined U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Acting Commissioner David V. Aguilar and Republic of Korea Minster of Justice Jae-Jin Kwon at the Washington Dulles International Airport to announce a reciprocal agreement for each nation’s trusted traveler programs—the U.S. Global Entry program and Korea Smart Entry Service.
“I am proud of the extraordinary bond between the United States and the Republic of Korea, and today’s agreement marks another major step forward in our partnership,” said Secretary Napolitano. “Global Entry and Korea’s Smart Entry Service are not just quick, easy, and efficient for travelers; they also help our customs authorities focus on those travelers we know less about, so that we can more effectively identify potential threats and keep our borders and our countries secure.”
Korea is the third country to have a fully reciprocal, publicly available trusted traveler program with the United States, joining the Netherlands and Canada, and is the first permanent trusted traveler program the United States has in Asia. Global Entry kiosks and Smart Entry Service e-gates allow expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers.
“International travel is fundamental to our nations’ economies,” said Acting Commissioner Aguilar. “With this agreement, we are delighted to do our part in strengthening economic vitality between our two nations while strengthening national security.”
Currently available at 25 U.S. international airports, Global Entry streamlines the screening process at airports for trusted travelers through biometric identification and reduces average wait times by 70 percent, with more than 75 percent of travelers using Global Entry processed in under five minutes. More than a million trusted travelers now receive Global Entry benefits, and these travelers have used its automated kiosks to expedite their entry more than 2.3 million times since the program’s inception.
The Global Entry program became a permanent initiative in January when President Obama signed an Executive Order outlining new initiatives to increase travel and tourism in the United States while encouraging job creation. ( Executive Order) The Global Entry program is another way DHS and CBP are helping to promote these efforts and stimulate our economy, while maintaining the highest standards of security.
For more information, visit Global Entry. ( CBP Global Entry )
New Requirements For All Importers of Solar Panels
U.S. Customs & Border Protection / www.cbp.gov
Antidumping and countervailing duties are required on imports of solar cells and panels from China, including solar panels produced in a third-country from Chinese solar cells.
Importers of solar panels from all countries that do not contain Chinese solar cells are required to certify that the imported solar panels do not contain Chinese solar cells, and to provide this certification at the request of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). If an importer does not provide this certification at the request of CBP, the U.S. Department of Commerce has instructed CBP to collect antidumping and countervailing duties on the corresponding imports of solar panels.
Importers of solar panels exported from China not containing Chinese solar cells are also required to maintain a certification from the exporter. If importers of this merchandise do not provide both the importer and exporter certification at the request of CBP, the U.S. Department of Commerce has instructed CBP to collect antidumping and countervailing duties on the corresponding imports of solar panels.
These certifications should not be provided as part of the entry document package, unless specifically requested by CBP. CBP may also request additional documentation supporting the certification.
For more information, see AD/CVD messages 2153302, 2158303, 2087303 and 2163303 available on ACE and ADDCVD Search (http://addcvd.cbp.gov/)
Claims for 2012 Anti-dumping and Countervailing Duties Must Be Filed by July 31
U.S. Customs & Border Protection / www.cbp.gov
Washington - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) published in the June 1, 2012 Federal Register, a notice that any domestic producer who is entitled to file a claim under the Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act of 2000 (CDSOA) needs to file their claim no later than July 31, 2012. The notice gives detailed instructions and requirements to be followed to ensure timely filing of claims.
The purpose of this law is to disburse anti-dumping and countervailing duties collected by CBP to domestic producers injured by foreign dumping and subsidies.
The harmed domestic producer is any manufacture, producer, farmer, rancher, or worker representative who was a petitioner or interested party in support of a petition with respect to which an anti-dumping or countervailing duty order that has been entered.
The notice list all harmed domestic producers who are entitled to file a claim under the CDSOA.
In order to be considered timely filed, the CBP Revenue Division must receive all fiscal year 2012 certifications no later than July 31, 2011. Any certifications received after July 31st will not be eligible to receive a distribution.
Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act of 2000 Certification, CBP Form 7401, may be used to apply for CDSOA distribution. This form is available at Pay.gov. ( Pay.gov ) This certification can be submitted electronically through Pay.gov or by mail.
Written certifications and other correspondence should be addressed to the Assistant Commissioner Office of Administration, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Revenue Division, Attention: Melissa Edwards, 6650 Telecom Drive, Suite 100, Indianapolis, IN, 46268.
The CDSOA program took effect on October 20, 2000 and is referred to as the Byrd Amendment, reference to its author, Senator Byrd.
For more information on CDSOA, please visit the CBP website. ( Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act (CDSOA) of 2000 )
CBP Announces Simplified Entry Pilot to Enhance Cargo Security
U.S. Customs & Border Protection / www.cbp.
Washington – U.S. Customs and Border Protection announces the delivery of the first phase of Cargo Release, known as Simplified Entry, in the Automated Commercial Environment. Simplified Entry provides importers with the chance to file a streamlined set of data earlier in the filing process providing more information earlier in the process and reduces the time needed for cargo to be released into the stream of commerce.
“The Simplified Entry Pilot is an outstanding example of what can happen when the government and the private sector co-create trade programs,” said Acting Commissioner, David V. Aguilar. “Simplified Entry will enhance cargo security, reduce cycle times, improve productivity, help eliminate redundant data transmissions, and potentially reduce costs.”
CBP has received the first Simplified Entry filings at each of the three pilot ports of Indianapolis, Chicago and Atlanta, as part of the pilot test that began May 29, 2012. To date, six of the nine pilot participants selected in December of 2011 have begun filing Simplified Entries.
Simplified Entry streamlines the release of goods and enhances cargo security. It segregates the filing of the transportation information from the filing of the entry information. This allows for the earlier filing of entry information. This, in turn, allows CBP personnel to apply more time and resources to higher risk shipments.
For information on Simplified Entry and other trade developments, visit the Trade website. ( Trade )
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Seizes $7.3 Million Worth of Cocaine at the Port of Miami
U.S. Customs & Border Protection / www.cbp.gov
Miami – On May 29, Customs and Border Protection officers at the Miami Seaport discovered approximately 459 pounds of cocaine hidden in a container at the Port of Miami. While inspecting containers at the Miami seaport CBP officers identified suspect suspicious boxes in a container which a CBP canine subsequently alerted to for the presence of narcotics.
Miami – On May 29, Customs and Border Protection officers at the Miami Seaport discovered approximately 459 pounds of cocaine hidden in a container at the Port of Miami. While inspecting containers at the Miami seaport CBP officers identified suspect suspicious boxes in a container which a CBP canine subsequently alerted to for the presence of narcotics.
The officers proceeded to examine the entire container and discovered 169 bricks of cocaine hidden within eight cardboard boxes. One of the bricks was tested by the officers and the substance tested positive for cocaine. The case is still under investigation and no arrests made at this time.
The container arrived in Miami aboard a freighter from Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic and originated in Panama. The ship also made stops in Colombia and Mexico.
“Every single day the men and women of Customs and Border Protection work diligently to protect our borders and to prevent the importation of contraband through our ports of entry. Customs and Border Protection at the Port of Miami also works very closely with our law enforcement and security partners to disrupt and ultimately close off pathways through which narcotics are introduced into the United States,” said Diane Sabatino, CBP Miami Seaport Port Director.
“This is an outstanding example of the excellent work being performed by our officers in stemming the flow of illegal narcotics into the United States. I commend the effort and dedication demonstrated by our frontline officers in securing our borders,” said CBP Director of Field Operations Vernon Foret.
Airline On-Time Performance Improves in April; Mishandled Baggage at All-Time Low
U.S. Department of Transportation / www.dot.gov
During April, the carriers canceled 1.0 percent of their scheduled domestic flights, down from April 2011’s 2.0 percent cancellation rate and equal to March 2012’s 1.0 percent.
Chronically Delayed Flights
At the end of April, there were six flights that were chronically delayed – more than 30 minutes late more than 50 percent of the time – for two consecutive months. No flights were chronically delayed for three consecutive months or more. A list of flights that were chronically delayed for a single month is available from BTS (www.bts.gov).
Causes of Flight Delays
In April, the carriers filing on-time performance data reported that 3.56 percent of their flights were delayed by aviation system delays, compared to 4.99 percent in March; 4.59 percent by late-arriving aircraft, compared to 6.16 percent in March; 4.04 percent by factors within the airline’s control, such as maintenance or crew problems, compared to 4.90 percent in March; 0.39 percent by extreme weather, compared to 0.51 percent in March; and 0.02 percent for security reasons, equal to 0.02 percent in March. Weather is a factor in both the extreme-weather category and the aviation-system category. This includes delays due to the re-routing of flights by DOT’s Federal Aviation Administration in consultation with the carriers involved.
Weather is also a factor in delays attributed to late-arriving aircraft, although airlines do not report specific causes in that category.
Data collected by BTS also shows the percentage of late flights delayed by weather, including those reported in either the category of extreme weather or included in National Aviation System delays. In April, 28.53 percent of late flights were delayed by weather, down 28.44 percent from April 2011, when 39.87 percent of late flights were delayed by weather, and down 19.34 percent from March when 35.37 percent of late flights were delayed by weather.
Detailed information on flight delays and their causes is available on the BTS site on the World Wide Web at http://www.bts.gov.
Incidents Involving Pets
In April, carriers reported three incidents involving the loss, death, or injury of pets while traveling by air, down from both the four reports filed in April 2011 and nine in March 2012. April’s incidents involved three pet deaths.
Complaints About Airline Service
In April, the Department received 1,068 complaints about airline service from consumers, up 21.4 percent from the 880 complaints received in April 2011, but down 4.4 percent from the 1,117 complaints filed in March 2012.
Complaints About Treatment of Disabled Passengers
The report also contains a tabulation of complaints filed with DOT in April against airlines regarding the treatment of passengers with disabilities. The Department received a total of 65 disability-related complaints in April 2012, up from the total of 48 filed in both April 2011 and in March 2012.
Complaints About Discrimination
In April, the Department received 14 complaints alleging discrimination by airlines due to factors other than disability – such as race, religion, national origin or sex – up from both the 10 filed in April 2011 and the total of four received in March 2012.
Consumers may file their complaints in writing with the Aviation Consumer Protection Division, U.S. Department of Transportation, C-75, W96-432, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, Washington, DC 20590; by voice mail at (202) 366-2220 or by TTY at (202) 366-0511; or on the web at http://airconsumer.dot.gov.
Consumers who want on-time performance data for specific flights should call their airline’s reservation number or their travel agent. This information is available on the computerized reservation systems used by these agents. The information is also available on the appropriate carrier’s website.
