This document summarizes a webinar hosted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) about permitting requirements for customs brokers. The webinar discussed CBP's vision for customs brokers in the 21st century and efforts to modernize regulations and conduct a pilot program. CBP is looking to test allowing brokers to maintain supervision and control over customs business without having a physical place of business in each district, to reflect the virtual nature of business. Selection criteria and potential impacts were discussed. The webinar schedule and ways to engage with CBP on this topic were also provided.

1. Summer 2012 Webinar Series
The Role of the Broker:
Permitting Requirements
Part of CBP’s
Initiatives for 21st Century Trade
June 28, 2012 1

2. Housekeeping
• Make sure the volume is turned up on your
computer and that the “mute” button is not engaged
• PLEASE USE YOUR COMPUTER SPEAKERS IF
POSSIBLE. We have only 125 phone lines.
• Ask questions and add comments using the “Chat”
feature
• View in “Full Screen” if you’d like to hide the CC
• Producer has responsibility for the content of this
webinar
• Contact us offline at RoleoftheBroker@cbp.dhs.gov
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3. Your hosts today
• Anita Harris, Chief of the Broker Compliance
Branch
• Gail Kan, Attorney Advisor, Regulations and
Rulings
• Virginia McPherson, Chief of Import
Safety, Office of International Trade
• Elena Ryan, Acting Director for Trade
Facilitation and Administration, Office of
International Trade
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4. What is your vision for the 21st
Century customs broker?
How do we get there?
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5. Modernize
• Modernize the regulations to align with
current electronic capabilities and business
practices
– 19 CFR 111.19 requires a broker to maintain a
place of business at the port where a permit
application is filed. The Trade has requested CBP
re-examine this regulatory requirement to
determine its effectiveness and necessity to have
a place of business at the port in the virtual world
of today.
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6. Pilot
• CBP is looking to conduct a pilot testing a
Broker’s ability to maintain responsible
supervision and control over the transaction
of customs business by waiving the
requirement to maintain a place of business
within the district where customs business is
being conducted
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7. Conducting the Pilot
• Must supply CBP with sufficient ‘point of contact’
information for each district entries are being filed
• Must have an existing business process for
submitting documents to CBP
• Must have an existing business process for
maintaining responsible supervision and control over
CBP business
• Must identify place where the applicant’s brokerage
records will be maintained and the name of the
applicant’s designated recordkeeping contact
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8. Selection Criteria
• Must be C-TPAT
• Must have 5 year importing history
• Must agree to file in an automated
environment
• Must file multiple entry types
01, 11, 23, 06, 03 (excluding drawback
entries), etc.
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9. Questions
• Is the geographically based permitting system still useful in
the virtual age?
• How do brokers demonstrate responsible supervision and
control over their customs business if they are working in
ports virtually?
• How do brokers get port-specific information if they are not
traditional players in that location?
• How would small brokerages or importers with a sole broker
on staff be affected?
• If CBP were to pilot a test program that would change local
permitting requirements, would you support this concept?
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10. July Webinar schedule
Start time is 3pm EDT and will generally be about 90 minutes
http://connect.hsin.gov/rotb/
You do not need to sign up; please join us at the scheduled time
June 7th Overview
June 21st Establishing bona fides
June 28th Broker permitting
July 12th Continuing education (Part 1)
July 26th Understanding impacts to business processes
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11. Websites and communication tools
Questions? Comments? Concerns?
Email us at RoleoftheBroker@cbp.dhs.gov
Our trade transformation website:
www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/trade_transformation/
On this site we’ll have…
– the webinar schedule
– previous webinars posted
– advance questions for the upcoming session
– other information you’d like to have?
Sign up for Trade Updates!
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