[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 48 (Tuesday, March 12, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8884-8885]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-04433]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

[Docket No. USCBP-2018-0045]


Announcing the Re-Opening of the Public Comment Period for 21st 
Century Customs Framework

AGENCY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Department of 
Homeland Security (DHS).

ACTION: Re-opening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is announcing the re-
opening of the public comment period on the six key themes identified 
by ``The 21st Century Customs Framework'' initiative.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 11, 2019.

ADDRESSES: 
    Submission of comments: To facilitate public participation, we are 
inviting public comment on the six themes described below. Comments 
must be submitted in writing no later than April 11, 2019, must be 
identified by Docket No. USCBP-2018-0045, and may be submitted by one 
(1) of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail: Mr. Brandon Lord, Office of Trade, U.S. Customs and 
Border Protection, 1331 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 950N, Washington, 
DC 20229.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the words 
``Department of Homeland Security'' and the docket number (USCBP-2018-
0045) for this action. Please do not submit personal information to the 
Federal eRulemaking portal.
    Docket: For access to the docket or to read background documents or 
comments, go to http://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket Number 
USCBP-2018-0045.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Brandon Lord, Office of Trade, 
U.S. Customs and Border Protection, 1331 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 
950N, Washington, DC 20229; telephone (202) 325-6432 or email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Extension of Comment Period

    On December 21, 2018, CBP published a notice in the Federal 
Register (83 FR 65703) announcing ``The 21st Century Customs 
Framework'' initiative and public meeting. This document announces that 
the public comment period that previously closed on February 4, 2019, 
will be re-opened for a period of 30 days. To allow for the submission 
of comments following the March 1, 2019 public meeting, and to maximize 
public participation and input on the key themes described below, CBP 
has decided to allow additional time for the public to submit comments. 
Accordingly, the comment period is re-opened until April 11, 2019, and 
comments must be received by CBP on or before that date.

21st Century Customs Framework Initiative Overview

    CBP is cognizant of the need to stay modern in order to meet the 
challenges of an evolving trade landscape. New

[[Page 8885]]

actors, industries, and modes of conducting business have emerged, 
disrupting the traditional global supply chain. To continue to 
effectively fulfill CBP's mission, CBP is pursuing an initiative titled 
``The 21st Century Customs Framework.'' ``The 21st Century Customs 
Framework'' will seek to address and enhance numerous aspects of CBP's 
trade mission to better position the agency to operate in the 21st 
century trade environment.
    Through preliminary efforts, CBP has identified key themes for 
which CBP seeks public input: (1) Emerging Roles in the Global Supply 
Chain; (2) Intelligent Enforcement; (3) Cutting-Edge Technology; (4) 
Data Access and Sharing; (5) 21st Century Processes; and (6) Self-
Funded Customs Infrastructure. Brief descriptions of each theme are 
provided below along with the request for public comments on questions 
posed by CBP related to each theme.

(1) Emerging Roles in the Global Supply Chain

    Due to technological advances and new modes of conducting business, 
the modern international trade environment is marked by emerging actors 
and dynamic supply chains. CBP's traditional legal frameworks were 
developed to primarily reflect containerized shipments and the supply 
chain to support such shipments, as opposed to small packages and 
business models built around e-commerce. CBP is seeking to ensure that 
all parties in the modern supply chain are aware of their 
responsibilities to promote safety and compliance, while still enabling 
legitimate trade and economic prosperity.
Public Comment Questions
     What new roles in the global supply chain are unaccounted 
for in CBP's current legal framework? How should the agency account for 
these roles?
     How can CBP work with e-commerce platforms and carriers to 
identify and deter illicit shipments?
     How can new actors in the global supply chain work with 
CBP to improve trade security?

(2) Intelligent Enforcement

    CBP's efforts on intelligent enforcement are anchored on further 
improving risk management and the impact of efforts to detect high-risk 
activity, deter non-compliance and disrupt fraudulent behavior--all in 
the interest of enforcing U.S. trade laws to protect America's economic 
security. CBP's intelligent enforcement efforts include exploring how 
to better utilize technology, big data, and predictive analytics to 
drive decision-making.
Public Comment Questions
     What technologies are useful in predicting violative 
activities and an entity's potential for violations?
     What tools or sources of information regarding CBP's 
compliance requirements have you found the most useful? What other 
resources can CBP provide to ensure that trade stakeholders understand 
CBP requirements?
     How can CBP improve violation referral systems and 
allegation processing?

(3) Cutting-Edge Technology

    One of the defining features of the modern trade environment is the 
rapid emergence of new technology. CBP is exploring the use of new 
technologies to improve trade facilitation and trade enforcement 
activities.
Public Comment Questions
     What emerging technologies are most important for CBP to 
monitor or adopt?
     What technologies are being adopted by the private sector 
that are incompatible with CBP's current legal or policy frameworks?
     What technologies on the horizon have the potential to be 
a disruptive force (enabling or challenging) within the trade 
ecosystem?

(4) Data Access and Sharing

    The volume and types of data and the speed at which the data can be 
transmitted create a valuable opportunity for CBP and trade 
stakeholders. CBP is examining how more efficient data sharing can 
improve trade facilitation and trade enforcement. At the same time, CBP 
is looking at ways to reduce the duplication or unnecessary capture of 
data.
Public Comment Questions
     What data would you like CBP to share with importers, and 
vice versa, to improve trade facilitation and enforcement?
     How can CBP's overall data sharing with trade stakeholders 
be improved?

(5) 21st Century Trade Processes

    CBP will be refining certain import processes to reflect the modern 
trade environment, improve the experience of importers, brokers, and 
other important actors in the supply chain, and increase overall 
efficiency. CBP is placing a focus on processes that may be overly 
burdensome or outdated.
Public Comment Questions
     What specific import procedures or requirements can be 
improved or refined, and how?
     What are some international best practices (i.e., 
processes used by other customs agencies) that CBP should examine?

(6) Self-Funded Customs Infrastructure

    New requirements affecting CBP, Partner Government Agencies (PGA), 
and trade industry will necessitate updates to the Automated Commercial 
Environment (ACE) outside of reoccurring maintenance. CBP is examining 
avenues to ensure that the ACE has a consistent stream of funding for 
enhancements and new functionalities.
Public Comment Questions
     Outside of the annual Congressional appropriations cycle, 
what mechanisms should CBP explore for consistent and timely funding 
for ACE enhancements?
     How could the fee collection process be streamlined, 
improved, or redesigned to more directly fund ACE enhancements?

    Dated: March 6, 2019.
Cynthia F. Whittenburg,
Deputy Executive Assistant Commissioner, Office of Trade.
[FR Doc. 2019-04433 Filed 3-11-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111-14-P