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Oct 22, 2002

Trade Support Network

U.S. Customs Commissioner Robert Bonner spoke to a meeting of the Trade Support Network (TSN) regarding Customs? proposed "24 hour rule." This proposed rule would require (a) for ocean cargo being shipped to the U.S., ocean carriers to transmit manifest information to Customs 24 hours in advance of lading at the foreign port, and (b) carriers to provide more detailed information on the contents of such cargo (i.e., vague descriptions such as "freight of all kinds" or "said to contain" would not be allowed).

Bonner said that most of the comments U.S. Customs has received on this proposed rule support its fundamental purpose and recognize U.S. Customs? need for better information about containerized cargo. Bonner noted, however, that there are different views on how to implement such a rule and how quickly it can be implemented. He added that U.S. Customs is considering all substantive comments in developing its final rule, but otherwise could not speculate on the precise nature of a final regulation.

Bonner reiterated that the 24-hour rule is vital to the success of Customs? Container Security Initiative (CSI). Rather than requiring 100 percent of all containers entering the U.S. to be inspected, as has been proposed in the Port Protection Act of 2002 (HR 5420), U.S. Customs wants to use timely and accurate information to evaluate which containers are high-risk and thus require closer examination. If U.S. Customs does not get that information, Bonner said, and U.S. Customs does not know enough about a container entering the U.S., it will be deemed high risk and inspected.

Bonner also sought to dispel the notion that Customs may not be capable of processing the information that would be submitted under the proposed rule. He noted that for 97 percent of the cargo containers entering the U.S., Customs already receives some form of advance information through its Automated Targeting System (ATS). ATS is a rules based system capable of sorting and processing vast amounts of information very rapidly, Bonner said, and can quickly make risk assessments before the vessel carrying the container arrives at the U.S. port. U.S. Customs is also doing its targeting on a national, rather than port-by-port, basis through its National Targeting Center.

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