Treasury Union: Staff CBP for Trade

For anybody who has been watching, paying attention to or had a passing interest in the activities of Customs and Border Protection, you're aware of the phrase "One Face at the Border." It's been their calling card since September 11, 2001. Custom was, until the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, an agency of Treasury. With their additional border security duties, they were moved to DHS.

The employees of CBP are members of the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) even though they're under Homeland Security. At a subcommittee hearing on March 5, 2009, the union suggested that CBP should end their "One Face at the Border" initiative because it is increasingly difficult for one officer to be trained in all disciplines. There are different considerations for passengers, cargo, mail, baggage, agricultural issues and all of these different components have proven difficult to properly cross-train. NTEU says that officers really becoming generalists and the plan should be abandoned and that staffing for import specialists at the ports of entry should be increased to 1,100 individuals by FY 2010.

Written transcripts of the hearing can be found online at the committee's website.

Lacey Act Phase II Enforcement begins April 1st.

For importers of plant or plant-based products, you have undoubtedly been following the saga of the Lacey Act. From its passage in Congress as part of the Farm Bill last year through the near-panic everyone has had over the wide reaching implications, it has been another challenge at a time when there are challenges a'plenty for importers already.

At a high level, the Lacey Act requires that the genus, species and country of harvest be provided to APHIS via CBP's entry process. A form has already been developed that can be completed, although ABI filers will likely have a function within their software which will allow the data to be transmitted electronically.

Under Phase II, APHIS is only going to require that the information be submitted for the following headings in Chapter 44:

• 4401 (fuel wood)
• 4403 (wood in the rough)
• 4404 (hoopwood; poles, piles, stakes)
• 4406 (railway or tram sleepers)
• 4407 (wood sawn or chipped lengthwise)
• 4408 (sheets for veneering)
• 4409 (wood continuously shaped)
• 4417 (tools, tool handles, broom handles) and
• 4418 (builder's joinery and carpentry of wood)

Information about the Lacey Act can be found on APHIS's website and you can check out CBP's plan for data sets and handling on their website.

Yo, ho, yo, ho a pirate's life for me

The Boston Globe today apparently had a photo essay on Somali pirates. For those who have read about it but haven't seen some of the players, it's worth a visit.

Find it here.