U.S. Customs Service
 
October 8, 2002
 

• U.S. Customs has announced modifications to the Customs Automated Commercial System (ACS) Reconciliation prototype test regarding NAFTA Reconciliation entries. Effective December 26, 2002, the following three reconciliation test modifications are: (1) test participants who have flagged an entry summary for NAFTA Reconciliation must file a NAFTA Reconciliation entry to make a post-entry claim for NAFTA; (2) where a test participant amends a timely filed NAFTA reconciliation entry after it is returned by Customs for correction, the test participant cannot add entry summaries to those that were covered in the original reconciliation entry; and (3) a reconciliation entry filed in response to a monthly liquidated damages claim for no-file violations cannot include flagged entry summaries that are not in violation. The agency also has clarified certain other aspects of the test and announced the new address for reconciliation submissions for the port of NY/Newark. Effective January 27, 2003, the previously suspended regulatory provisions of part 111 of the Customs Regulations will be applicable to reconciliation test participants. Applications to participate in the test are still being accepted. Written inquiries regarding participation and/or applications to participate should be addressed to Mr. John Leonard, Reconciliation Team, U.S. Customs Service, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W., Room 5.2A, Washington, D.C. 20229-0001, 202-927-0915. Answers to inquiries regarding the test are also available at Recon.Help@customs.treas.gov. For more information, go to http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2002_register&docid=02-24588-filed.


• U.S. Customs has announced plans to conduct a prototype test to determine the feasibility of filing paperless drawback claims. The Paperless Drawback prototype will provide for a ``paperless'' process that allows approved participants to electronically file drawback claims using the Automated Broker Interface of Customs Automated Commercial System. The Paperless Drawback prototype is limited to drawback claims filed at the New York/Newark Drawback Center. The agency invites public comment concerning any aspect of the planned prototype, informs interested members of the public of the eligibility, procedural and documentation requirements for voluntary participation in the Paperless Drawback prototype, and outlines the evaluation methodology to be used in the test. Drawback claimants who wish to participate in the Paperless Drawback prototype must submit applications to Customs no later than October 28, 2002. The Paperless Drawback prototype will commence no earlier than August 1, 2002, and will run for approximately one year with a final evaluation taking place at the end of the first year. Written comments and prototype applications, should be addressed to the U.S. Customs Service, Entry and Drawback Management Branch, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Room 5.2-33, Washington, D.C. 20229. For further information contact: Sherri Lee Hoffman, U.S. Customs Service, Entry and Drawback Management Branch, at 202-927-0300 or via e-mail at sherri.lee.hoffman@customs.treas.gov. For additional information, go to http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2002_register&docid=02-24589-filed.

For more information, contact Andrea Ewart or Ron Oleynik, toll free at 888-688-8500, or via e-mail at aewart@hklaw.com and roleynik@hklaw.com, respectively.