THE US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) urges customs brokers to enhance their understanding of customers participating in a cbp programme that handles low-value international shipments, reports New York's Journal of Commerce.
This heightened focus is in response to the increasing volume of such shipments being processed by CBP, particularly within the agency's 'Type 86' pilot programme, which addresses de minimis shipments valued at US$800 or less.
'We're now seeing almost 2.5 million small packages come in through all of our international mail facilities and hubs, through maritime cargo as well, and in trucks going across the border,' said CPB Office of Trade deputy executive assistant commissioner John Leonard.
'De minimis is exploding, it really is becoming a huge part of our trade landscape.'
Under the de minimis rule, a consignee can import one package worth $800 or less per day without filing a formal customs entry with CBP.
The Type 86 pilot is a voluntary programme in which a consignee can have its broker provide CBP with data filed through the agency's automated broker interface (ABI).
'What we're hoping to do, especially with customs brokers who do file Type 86 [entries], is get them more aware of who the customer is, who the client is, and what is actually in the shipment,' said Mr Leonard.
Mr Leonard stated importers or their brokers have to file a 'harmonised tariff system' (HTS) number with the Type 86 entry.
'It's very similar to a formal entry in some respects, except there's no bond,' said Mr Leonard.
'But a lot of the key data elements are very, very similar to what's on the formal entry. But our fear is that brokers are not tracking as closely who the client is and what is in the parcel.'
SeaNews Turkey
This heightened focus is in response to the increasing volume of such shipments being processed by CBP, particularly within the agency's 'Type 86' pilot programme, which addresses de minimis shipments valued at US$800 or less.
'We're now seeing almost 2.5 million small packages come in through all of our international mail facilities and hubs, through maritime cargo as well, and in trucks going across the border,' said CPB Office of Trade deputy executive assistant commissioner John Leonard.
'De minimis is exploding, it really is becoming a huge part of our trade landscape.'
Under the de minimis rule, a consignee can import one package worth $800 or less per day without filing a formal customs entry with CBP.
The Type 86 pilot is a voluntary programme in which a consignee can have its broker provide CBP with data filed through the agency's automated broker interface (ABI).
'What we're hoping to do, especially with customs brokers who do file Type 86 [entries], is get them more aware of who the customer is, who the client is, and what is actually in the shipment,' said Mr Leonard.
Mr Leonard stated importers or their brokers have to file a 'harmonised tariff system' (HTS) number with the Type 86 entry.
'It's very similar to a formal entry in some respects, except there's no bond,' said Mr Leonard.
'But a lot of the key data elements are very, very similar to what's on the formal entry. But our fear is that brokers are not tracking as closely who the client is and what is in the parcel.'
SeaNews Turkey