International Trade Law News

U.S. Customs and Border Protection issued an administrative message on March 3, 2006 (message number 06-0304) reminding customs brokers that correspondence relating to certain matters must be sent to the appropriate port director and not to CBP headquarters.

The full text of the message is as follows:

ADMINISTRATIVE MESSAGE 06-0304 03/03/2006

TITLE: ABI-CORRESPONDENCE, ABI MISDIRECTED
TO:  ALL ABI BROKERS

SUBJ:  MISDIRECTED BROKER CORRESPONDENCE

THE PURPOSE OF THIS ADMINISTRATIVE MESSAGE IS TO REMIND CUSTOMS BROKERS
THAT CORRESPONDENCE RELATING TO CERTAIN MATTERS MUST BE DIRECTED TO THE
APPROPRIATE CBP PORT DIRECTOR(S), AND NOT TO CBP HEADQUARTERS

THE FOLLOWING MUST BE SENT TO THE PORT DIRECTOR WHERE THE BROKER'S
LICENSE WAS GRANTED.

STATUS REPORT (TRIENNIAL) 2006 AND FEE PAYMENT
LOCAL OR NATIONAL PERMIT FEE PAYMENT
THESE ITEMS SHOULD BE SENT TO EACH PORT DIRECTOR WHERE THE BROKER HAS A
HAS A LOCAL PERMIT:

PERMIT FEE PAYMENTS
NOTICE OF CHANGE IN A BROKER'S BUSINESS ADDRESS AND ORGANIZATION (OTHER
THAN OWNERSHIP).

IF THERE IS A CHANGE IN THE OWNERSHIP OF A BROKER AND OWNERSHIP SHARES
IN THE BROKER ARE NOT PUBLICLY TRADED, THE BROKER MUST IMMEDIATELY
PROVIDE WRITTEN NOTICE TO THE APPROPRIATE PORT DIRECTOR(S), AND ALSO
TO THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER, OFFICE OF FIELD OPERATIONS, CBP
HEADQUARTERS.

CORRESPONDENCE AND PAYMENTS INAPPROPRIATELY SENT TO CBP HEADQUARTERS
INSTEAD OF THE APPROPRIATE PORT DIRECTOR(S) PUT THE BROKER AT RISK
FOR DELAYS AND POSSIBLE MISSED DEADLINES THAT COULD HAVE SERIOUS
BUSINESS CONSEQUENCES.

ALSO, IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO SEND CBP HEADQUARTERS COPIES OF YOUR
CORRESPONDENCE TO THE PORT DIRECTORS.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ABOUT THIS ADMINISTRATIVE
MESSAGE, PLEASE CONTACT A MEMBER OF THE BROKER MANAGEMENT BRANCH,
TRADE ENFORCEMENT AND FACILITATION, OFFICE OF FIELD OPERATIONS, AT
202-344-2580.

Labels: Customs