by Peter Quinter, guest columnist
Here is my annual list of predictions for US Customs and Border Protection in the year ahead:
1. President Obama will nominate and the Senate will confirm a new, permanent CBP Commissioner.
2. CBP’s annual budget will increase in a continuation of the trend ever since it became an agency of the US Department of Homeland Security in 2003.
3. The “do nothing” Congress will finally pass the Customs Reform bill, placing more emphasis on CBP’s traditional international trade enforcement mission.
4. There will be a record number of importer audits by CBP’s own Office of Regulatory Audit focused on companies that attempt to avoid payment of antidumping duties.
5. Continued enforcement of intellectual property rights laws will remain a primary priority, with a special focus on the examination and seizure of counterfeit merchandise attempting to enter the US.
6. More Customs and Border Protection officers will be located overseas at US embassies and consulates; narcotics enforcement activities in foreign countries by CBP Air and Marine operations will continue.
7. The US General Accountability Office (GAO) will issue another report critical of CBP’s cargo selectivity program.
8. A record number of licensed customs brokers will be counseled by CBP Broker Management officers at ports around the country, and will be assessed penalties for “failure to supervise,” among various other violations of 19 USC 1641 and 19 CFR Part 111.
9. The categories of companies that may apply for membership in the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) will be expanded – and better, practical benefits for members, especially at Tier 2 and 3 levels, added.
10. There will be a significant increase in annual pay for CBP employees – rather than none or the insultingly low increases of the past few years during the “Great Recession.”
Please call or email me with any questions or comments at [email protected] or (954) 270-1864.
Copyright © 2014 GrayRobinson
This column is based on material that originally appeared in the GrayRobinson Customs and International Law Blog, which is edited by Peter Quinter and covers a range of legal and regulatory issues related to trade. Subscribe at http://www.grcustomslaw.com/
About Peter Quinter
The Datamyne Blog’s legal contributor is a shareholder in GrayRobinson’s Miami and Ft. Lauderdale offices, and chair of the firm’s Customs & International Trade Law Group. Appointed by the Secretary of Commerce to the Florida District Export Council, Quinter is a recognized expert in international and trade law, and has been listed in “Best Lawyers in America” in the area of FDA Law each year since 2009.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of its author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views or Descartes Datamyne. In addition, this article is for general information purposes only and it’s not intended to provide legal advice or opinions of any kind and my not be used for professional or commercial purposes. No one should act, or refrain from acting, based solely on this article without first seeking appropriate legal or other professional advice.