Customs fees

(a)

In general

Section 13031(b)(9) of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (19 U.S.C. 58c(b)(9)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(D) (i)With respect to the processing of items that are sent to the United States through the international postal network by Inbound Express Mail service or Inbound EMS (as that service is described in the mail classification schedule referred to in section 3631 of title 39, United States Code), the following payments are required: (I)$1 per Inbound EMS item. (II)If an Inbound EMS item is formally entered, the fee provided for under subsection (a)(9), if applicable. (ii)Notwithstanding section 451 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1451), the payments required by clause (i), as allocated pursuant to clause (iii)(I), shall be the only payments required for reimbursement of U.S. Customs and Border Protection for customs services provided in connection with the processing of an Inbound EMS item. (iii) (I)The payments required by clause (i) shall be allocated as follows: (aa)50 percent of the amount of the payments shall be paid on a quarterly basis by the United States Postal Service to the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury to reimburse U.S. Customs and Border Protection for customs services provided in connection with the processing of Inbound EMS items. (bb)50 percent of the amount of the payments shall be retained by the Postal Service to reimburse the Postal Service for services provided in connection with the customs processing of Inbound EMS items. (II)Payments received by U.S. Customs and Border Protection under subclause (I)(aa) shall, in accordance with section 524 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1524), be deposited in the Customs User Fee Account and used to directly reimburse each appropriation for the amount paid out of that appropriation for the costs incurred in providing services to international mail facilities. Amounts deposited in accordance with the preceding sentence shall be available until expended for the provision of such services. (III)Payments retained by the Postal Service under subclause (I)(bb) shall be used to directly reimburse the Postal Service for the costs incurred in providing services in connection with the customs processing of Inbound EMS items. (iv)Beginning in fiscal year 2021, the Secretary, in consultation with the Postmaster General, may adjust, not more frequently than once each fiscal year, the amount described in clause (i)(I) to an amount commensurate with the costs of services provided in connection with the customs processing of Inbound EMS items, consistent with the obligations of the United States under international agreements.

(b)

Conforming amendments

Section 13031(a) of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (19 U.S.C. 58c(a)) is amended— (1)in paragraph (6), by inserting (other than an item subject to a fee under subsection (b)(9)(D)) after customs officer; and (2)in paragraph (10)— (A)in subparagraph (C), in the matter preceding clause (i), by inserting (other than Inbound EMS items described in subsection (b)(9)(D)) after release; and (B)in the flush at the end, by inserting or of Inbound EMS items described in subsection (b)(9)(D), after (C),. (c)

Effective date

The amendments made by this section shall take effect on January 1, 2020.

Mandatory advance electronic information for postal shipments

(a)

Mandatory advance electronic information

(1)

In general

Section 343(a)(3)(K) of the Trade Act of 2002 (Public Law 107–210; 19 U.S.C. 2071 note) is amended to read as follows:

(K) (i)The Secretary, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, shall prescribe regulations requiring the United States Postal Service to transmit the information described in paragraphs (1) and (2) to the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection for international mail shipments by the Postal Service (including shipments to the Postal Service from foreign postal operators that are transported by private carrier) consistent with the requirements of this subparagraph. (ii)In prescribing regulations under clause (i), the Secretary shall impose requirements for the transmission to the Commissioner of information described in paragraphs (1) and (2) for mail shipments described in clause (i) that are comparable to the requirements for the transmission of such information imposed on similar non-mail shipments of cargo, taking into account the parameters set forth in subparagraphs (A) through (J). (iii)The regulations prescribed under clause (i) shall require the transmission of the information described in paragraphs (1) and (2) with respect to a shipment as soon as practicable in relation to the transportation of the shipment, consistent with subparagraph (H). (iv)Regulations prescribed under clause (i) shall allow for the requirements for the transmission to the Commissioner of information described in paragraphs (1) and (2) for mail shipments described in clause (i) to be implemented in phases, as appropriate, by— (I)setting incremental targets for increasing the percentage of such shipments for which information is required to be transmitted to the Commissioner; and (II)taking into consideration— (aa)the risk posed by such shipments; (bb)the volume of mail shipped to the United States by or through a particular country; and (cc)the capacities of foreign postal operators to provide that information to the Postal Service. (v) (I)Notwithstanding clause (iv) and except as provided in subclause (II), the Postal Service shall, not later than December 31, 2018, arrange for the transmission to the Commissioner of the information described in paragraphs (1) and (2) for not less than 70 percent of the aggregate number of mail shipments described in clause (i). (II) (aa)The requirements of subclause (I) may be waived for a period of not more than 180 days if, not later than December 31, 2018— (AA)the Secretary and the Postmaster General, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, determine that meeting those requirements is not feasible because of the lack of capacity of foreign postal operators to provide the Postal Service with the information described in paragraphs (1) and (2); (BB)the Secretary and the Postmaster General, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, determine that meeting those requirements is not feasible because of extraordinary reasons other than lack of capacity of foreign postal operators that are outside the control of the Postal Service; or (CC)the Secretary of State determines that such a waiver is in the national security interests of the United States. (bb)A waiver under item (aa) may be renewed for one additional period of not more than 180 days if a determination described in item (aa) is made for that period. (III)If the requirements of subclause (I) are not met, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees, not later than January 31, 2020, a report— (aa)assessing the reasons for the failure to meet those requirements; and (bb)identifying recommendations to improve the collection by the Postal Service of the information described in paragraphs (1) and (2). (vi) (I)Notwithstanding clause (iv) and except as provided in subclause (II), the Postal Service shall, not later than December 31, 2022, arrange for the transmission to the Commissioner of the information described in paragraphs (1) and (2) for not less than 95 percent of the aggregate number of mail shipments described in clause (i). (II)The requirements of subclause (I) may be waived for a period of not more than one year if, not later than December 31, 2022— (aa)the Secretary and the Postmaster General, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, determine that meeting those requirements is not feasible because of— (AA)the lack of capacity of foreign postal operators to provide the Postal Service with the information described in paragraphs (1) and (2); or (BB)extraordinary reasons other than lack of capacity of foreign postal operators that are outside the control of the Postal Service; or (bb)the Secretary of State determines that such a waiver is in the national security interests of the United States. (vii)Not later than 15 days before making a determination under clause (v) or (vi) that meeting the requirements of that clause is not feasible, the Secretary and the Postmaster General shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a notification of the determination. The notification shall include— (I)in the case of a determination under clause (v)(II)(aa)(AA) or (vi)(II)(aa)(AA)— (aa)a list of which foreign postal operators lack the capacity to provide the information described in paragraphs (1) and (2) to the Postal Service; (bb)a description of the efforts by the Postal Service made to obtain that information from those operators; and (cc)a plan for obtaining that information from those operators; and (II)in the case of a determination under clause (v)(II)(aa)(BB) or (vi)(II)(aa)(BB)— (aa)a description of the extraordinary reasons outside the control of the Postal Service; and (bb)a plan for obtaining the transmission of information described in paragraphs (1) and (2) as required by clause (v) or (vi), as applicable. (viii)The Secretary and the Postmaster General may, in consultation with the Secretary of State, as necessary, take all appropriate remedial measures necessary to ensure compliance with regulations prescribed under clause (i) and consistent with the obligations of the United States under international agreements, including refusal of shipments for which the information described in paragraphs (1) and (2) is not transmitted as required under this subparagraph. (ix)Nothing in this subparagraph shall be construed to limit the authority of the Secretary to obtain information relating to international mail shipments from private carriers or other appropriate parties. (x)In this subparagraph, the term appropriate congressional committees means— (I)the Committee on Finance and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate; and (II)the Committee on Ways and Means and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives.

(2)

Joint strategic plan on mandatory advance information

Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Postmaster General shall develop and submit to the appropriate congressional committees a joint strategic plan detailing specific performance measures for achieving— (A)the transmission of information as required by section 343(a)(3)(K) of the Trade Act of 2002, as amended by paragraph (1); and (B)the presentation by the Postal Service to U.S. Customs and Border Protection of all mail targeted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection for inspection. (b)

Capacity building

(1)

In general

Section 343(a) of the Trade Act of 2002 (Public Law 107–210; 19 U.S.C. 2071 note) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(5)

Capacity building

(A)

In general

The Secretary, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, and in coordination with the Postmaster General and the heads of other Federal agencies, as appropriate, may provide technical assistance, equipment, technology, and training to enhance the capacity of foreign postal operators— (i)to gather and provide the information required by paragraph (3)(K); and (ii)to otherwise gather and provide postal shipment information related to— (I)terrorism; (II)items the importation or introduction of which into the United States is prohibited or restricted, including controlled substances; and (III)such other concerns as the Secretary determines appropriate. (B)

Provision of equipment and technology

With respect to the provision of equipment and technology under subparagraph (A), the Secretary may lease, loan, provide, or otherwise assist in the deployment of such equipment and technology under such terms and conditions as the Secretary may prescribe, including nonreimbursable loans or the transfer of ownership of equipment and technology.

(2)

Joint strategic plan on capacity building

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Postmaster General shall, in consultation with the Secretary of State, jointly develop and submit to the appropriate congressional committees a joint strategic plan— (A)detailing the extent to which U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the United States Postal Service are engaged in capacity building efforts under section 343(a)(5) of the Trade Act of 2002, as added by paragraph (1); (B)describing plans for future capacity building efforts; and (C)assessing how capacity building has increased the ability of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Postal Service to advance the goals of this Act and the amendments made by this Act. (c)

Report and consultations by Secretary of Homeland Security and Postmaster General

(1)

Report

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter until 3 years after the Postmaster General has met the requirement under clause (vi) of subparagraph (K) of section 343(a)(3) of the Trade Act of 2002, as amended by subsection (a)(1), the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Postmaster General shall, in consultation with the Secretary of State, jointly submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on compliance with that subparagraph that includes the following: (A)An assessment of the status of the regulations required to be promulgated under that subparagraph. (B)An update regarding new and existing agreements reached with foreign postal operators for the transmission of the information required by that subparagraph. (C)A summary of deliberations between the United States Postal Service and foreign postal operators with respect to issues relating to the transmission of that information. (D)A summary of the progress made in achieving the transmission of that information for the percentage of shipments required by that subparagraph. (E)An assessment of the quality of that information being received by foreign postal operators, as determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security, and actions taken to improve the quality of that information. (F)A summary of policies established by the Universal Postal Union that may affect the ability of the Postmaster General to obtain the transmission of that information. (G)A summary of the use of technology to detect illicit synthetic opioids and other illegal substances in international mail parcels and planned acquisitions and advancements in such technology. (H)Such other information as the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Postmaster General consider appropriate with respect to obtaining the transmission of information required by that subparagraph. (2)

Consultations

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 180 days thereafter until the Postmaster General has met the requirement under clause (vi) of section 343(a)(3)(K) of the Trade Act of 2002, as amended by subsection (a)(1), to arrange for the transmission of information with respect to not less than 95 percent of the aggregate number of mail shipments described in clause (i) of that section, the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Postmaster General shall provide briefings to the appropriate congressional committees on the progress made in achieving the transmission of that information for that percentage of shipments. (d)

Government Accountability Office report

Not later than December 31, 2020, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report— (1)assessing the progress of the United States Postal Service in achieving the transmission of the information required by subparagraph (K) of section 343(a)(3) of the Trade Act of 2002, as amended by subsection (a)(1), for the percentage of shipments required by that subparagraph; (2)assessing the quality of the information received from foreign postal operators for targeting purposes; (3)assessing the specific percentage of targeted mail presented by the Postal Service to U.S. Customs and Border Protection for inspection; (4)describing the costs of collecting the information required by such subparagraph (K) from foreign postal operators and the costs of implementing the use of that information; (5)assessing the benefits of receiving that information with respect to international mail shipments; (6)assessing the feasibility of assessing a customs fee under section 13031(b)(9) of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended by section 2, on international mail shipments other than Inbound Express Mail service in a manner consistent with the obligations of the United States under international agreements; and (7)identifying recommendations, including recommendations for legislation, to improve the compliance of the Postal Service with such subparagraph (K), including an assessment of whether the detection of illicit synthetic opioids in the international mail would be improved by— (A)requiring the Postal Service to serve as the consignee for international mail shipments containing goods; or (B)designating a customs broker to act as an importer of record for international mail shipments containing goods. (e)

Technical correction

Section 343 of the Trade Act of 2002 (Public Law 107–210; 19 U.S.C. 2071 note) is amended in the section heading by striking

advanced

and inserting

advance

. (f)

Appropriate congressional committees defined

In this section, the term appropriate congressional committees means— (1)the Committee on Finance and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate; and (2)the Committee on Ways and Means and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives.