Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee

On February 14, 2025, U.S. Customs and Border Protection published in the Federal Register (90 FR 9629) Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee.

DATES: The COAC will meet on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST). Please note the meeting may close early if the committee has completed its business. Registration to attend in-person and comments must be submitted no later than February 28, 2025.

DATES: The COAC will meet on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST). Please note the meeting may close early if the committee has completed its business. Registration to attend in-person and comments must be submitted no later than February 28, 2025.

AGENDA:

The COAC will hear from the current subcommittees on the topics listed below:

1. 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 and other trade remedy measures and requirements. The Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Process Modernization Working Group will provide updates concerning progress associated with its proposed recommendations specific to IPR enforcement and facilitation. The Forced Labor Working Group (FLWG) will submit proposed recommendations and provide updates on continued discussions regarding trade outreach and clarification of requirements. The FLWG will continue to provide CBP with input, as CBP rolls out a case management portal and a new version of the ``Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) U.S. Customs and Border Protection Operational Guidance for Importers''. The Bond Working Group remained on hiatus status since the last public meeting.

2. The Next Generation Facilitation Subcommittee will provide updates on all its existing working groups. The Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) 2.0 Working Group was focused on a discussion on the ACE 2.0 high level roadmap and clarification on some of the proposed capabilities such as blanket entries and correction processes. The Broker Modernization Working Group (BMWG) remains dedicated to the enhancement of the end user experience and improving the administration of the Customs Broker Licensing Exam (CBLE). This quarter, the Modernized Entry Processes Working Group (MEPWG) continues its National Customs Automation Program (NCAP) discussions and will provide updates on its efforts concerning the reconciliation test. The MEPWG will provide updates regarding areas where CBP could provide further guidance on the Broker Cybersecurity Incident Procedures in the form of Frequently Asked Questions. The remaining working group, the Customs Interagency Industry Working Group (CIIWG), was not active this past quarter but will provide a report on topics that the working group will focus on in the coming quarter.

3. The Secure Trade Lanes Subcommittee will provide updates on its seven active working groups: the Centers Working Group, the Cross-Border Recognition Working Group, the De Minimis Working Group, the Export Modernization Working Group, the FTZ/Warehouse Working Group, the Pipeline Working Group, and the Trade Partnership and Engagement Working Group. The proposed recommendations presented by the De Minimis Automation Task Force in the December meeting will be put forward for a vote in the March meeting. These proposed recommendations could not be voted on at the December meeting, due to the lack of quorum for COAC. The Export Modernization Working Group met to discuss the rail Electronic Export Manifest after much anticipation for its release. The Export Modernization Working Group continues the discussion on progressive filing in the export environment. The Drawback Task Force, within the Export Modernization Working Group, met to discuss the general rulings and the drawback desk review process and hopes to submit proposed recommendations this quarter surrounding the streamlining of the manufacturing rulings process. The Centers Working Group continues to meet within the Structure and Operations Sub-Working Groups. The Centers Working Group continues to evaluate previous the recommendations that were put forward and will determine if any additional proposed recommendations may come from that review and with new topics that are discussed within the Sub-Working Groups. The FTZ/Warehouse Working Group continues to review 19 CFR part 146 and intends to have proposed recommendations for review surrounding ACE functionality for the March public meeting. The Pipeline Working Group has not met yet this quarter and will not have any proposed recommendations. The Cross-Border Recognition Working group has not met this quarter and will finalize the evaluation for the Statement of Work to determine next steps.

Meeting materials will be available on February 24, 2025, at: https://www.cbp.gov/trade/stakeholder-engagement/coac/coac-public-meetings.