[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 157 (Wednesday, August 14, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40430-40431]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-17444]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

U.S. Customs and Border Protection


Modification of the National Customs Automation Program Test 
Regarding Post-Summary Corrections for Extensions of Liquidation

AGENCY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland 
Security.

ACTION: General notice.

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SUMMARY: This document announces U.S. Customs and Border Protection's 
(CBP's) modification to the National Customs Automation Program (NCAP) 
test pertaining to the processing of post-summary corrections (PSCs). 
The modification in this notice expands the time period in which a PSC 
must be filed by allowing a PSC to be transmitted up to 15 days prior 
to the scheduled date of liquidation when liquidation has been 
extended. Except to the extent expressly announced or modified by this 
document, all aspects, rules, terms and conditions announced in 
previous notices regarding the PSC test remain in effect.

DATES: The modifications announced in this test will become operational 
on August 14, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Comments concerning this notice and any aspect of this test 
may be submitted at any time during the test via email to Randy 
Mitchell, Director, Commercial Operations, Revenue and Entry Division, 
Trade Policy and Programs, Office of Trade, via email at 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For policy-related questions, contact 
Randy Mitchell, Director, Commercial Operations, Revenue and Entry 
Division, Trade Policy and Programs, Office of Trade, via email at 
[email protected]. For technical questions related to 
Automated Broker Interface transmissions, contact your assigned client 
representative. Interested parties without an assigned client 
representative should direct their questions to the Client 
Representative Branch at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    The National Customs Automation Program (NCAP) was established by 
Subtitle B of Title VI--Customs Modernization in the North American 
Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Implementation Act (Customs Modernization 
Act) (Pub. L. 103-182, 107 Stat. 2057, 2170, December 8, 1993) (19 
U.S.C. 1411). Through NCAP, the thrust of customs modernization was on 
trade compliance and the development of the Automated Commercial 
Environment (ACE), the planned successor to the Automated Commercial 
System (ACS) as the CBP-authorized electronic data interchange (EDI) 
system. ACE is an automated and electronic system for commercial trade 
processing which is intended to streamline business processes, 
facilitate growth in trade, ensure cargo security, and foster 
participation in global commerce, while ensuring compliance with U.S. 
laws and regulations and reducing costs for U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection (CBP) and all of its communities of interest. The ability to 
meet these objectives depends on successfully modernizing CBP's 
business functions and the information technology that supports those 
functions.
    CBP's modernization efforts are accomplished through phased 
releases of ACE component functionality designed to replace specific 
legacy ACS functions and add new functionality. Section 101.9(b) of 
title 19 of the Code of Federal Regulations (19 CFR 101.9(b)) provides 
for the testing of NCAP components. See T.D. 95-21, 60 FR 14211 (March 
16, 1995).
    On June 24, 2011, CBP published a notice in the Federal Register 
(76 FR 37136) that announced a plan to conduct an NCAP test concerning 
new ACE capabilities allowing importers to file a post-summary 
correction (PSC) for certain entry summaries using the Automated Broker 
Interface. Through a series of subsequent Federal Register notices, CBP 
has modified and clarified various aspects of the PSC test. Originally, 
a PSC had to be transmitted within 270 days after the date of entry, 
but could not be filed within 20 days prior to the scheduled date of 
liquidation. However, on November 1, 2017, CBP published a notice in 
the Federal Register (82 FR 50656) modifying the PSC test to require 
filing within 300 days after the date of entry or up to 15 days prior 
to the scheduled liquidation date, whichever date is earlier. In the 
event that liquidation was extended, there was no change to the PSC 
deadline.

II. Modification of the PSC Test

    This document announces that CBP is extending the deadline for 
filing a PSC in cases where an importer requests and is granted an 
extension of liquidation pursuant to 19 CFR 159.12. With this 
modification, after an importer is granted an extension of liquidation, 
a PSC must be transmitted up to 15 days prior to the scheduled 
liquidation date. Accordingly, for test participants, a PSC must be 
transmitted within 300 days after the date of entry or up to 15 days 
prior to the scheduled liquidation date, whichever is earlier, except 
in situations involving an extension of liquidation, in which case a 
PSC must be transmitted up to 15 days prior to the scheduled 
liquidation date.
    This change is being made to increase the amount of time a filer 
has to submit a PSC in situations involving extensions of liquidation. 
Except to the extent expressly announced or modified by this document, 
all aspects, rules, terms, requirements, obligations and conditions 
announced in previous notices regarding the PSC test remain in effect.


[[Page 40431]]


    Dated: August 2, 2019.
Brenda B. Smith,
Executive Assistant Commissioner, Office of Trade.
[FR Doc. 2019-17444 Filed 8-13-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9111-14-P