CBP Amends "Imported Directly" Requirement under Bahrain FTA

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has amended its regulations on an interim basis to change certain provisions relating to the requirement under the U.S.-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement that a good must be imported directly from one country to the other to qualify for preferential tariff treatment. This rule removes the condition that a good passing through the territory of an intermediate country while en route from one FTA party to the other must remain under the control of the customs authority of the intermediate country, a condition that is not contained in either the FTA or the U.S. law implementing it.

As a result of this change, the only requirement for a shipment passing through an intermediate country to be considered to be imported directly under the U.S.-Bahrain FTA is that it not undergo production, manufacturing or any other operation outside the territories of the U.S. or Bahrain other than unloading, reloading or any other operation necessary to preserve the good in good condition or transport it to the U.S. or Bahrain. Operations that may be performed in an intermediate country include inspection, removal of dust that accumulates during shipment, ventilation, spreading out or drying, chilling, replacing salt, sulfur dioxide, or aqueous solutions, replacing damaged packing materials and containers, and removal of units of the good that are spoiled or damaged and present a danger to the remaining units of the good, or to transport the good to the U.S. or Bahrain.

This rule is effective as of May 22.

To read this article, please visit WorldTrade\Interactive.

Why Comply?

The US Government is taking unprecedented steps to protect national security, and nowhere is the impact of that effort felt more than at the country's entry points. For global shippers, this heightened security consciousness presents myriad challenges when it comes to clearing goods through US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), which requires more and allows for less than ever before.

Failing to understand and comply with the latest CBP requirements can cost shippers and importers serious time and money. A spot inspection can delay the movement of material for several hours; a hold can delay it for several days.

The good news is that CBP offers new tools and programs to help shippers and importers meet its new, stringent requirements. If shippers had to choose one action that would help expedite the movement of goods through Customs, it's to become certified under the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) program.

CBP launched the C-TPAT initiative in an effort to help it work more closely with businesses to improve border security. To qualify for C-TPAT certification, shippers and importers must meet a variety of requirements in several categories, ranging from business practices and record-keeping to facility security and developing working relationships with supply chain partners on security issues.

To understand more about the latest CBP programs and requirements, view the full article on page 36 in the February 2009 edition of the Journal of Commerce.

CBP Does Its Part To Stimulate Economy

Companies are shedding jobs at an unprecedented rate as the U.S. economy weakens, but U.S. Customs and Border Protection is offering hope to thousands of people as it looks to fill 11,000 law enforcement officer and support positions this year.

On Saturday, the agency launched a national recruiting campaign with open houses at 15 locations across the country. CBP said 22,400 applicants attended the one-day event to learn about CBP's mission, career options and how to apply for a job.
More than 6,000 people turned out in both Detroit and Laredo, Texas.

To view the full article, visit American Shipper at
http://www.americanshipper.com/NewWeb/News/shippers-newswire/logistics/122897--cbp-does-its-part-to-stimulate-economy.html