New Broker Licensing & Permitting Location

CBP announced that effective February 1, 2011; the Memphis port will maintain its own brokerage oversight and compliance office. The plan is for the Memphis staff to handle the entire broker licensing and permitting process for the are port of Memphis. This area includes individual licensed brokers, partnerships and corporations permitted in the states of Arkansas and Tennessee. This move will allow CBP to provide improved customer service to the local importing communities. The change does not have any impact on the regulations or current district boundaries.


This will provide better and timely external customer services to the Mid-South and New Orleans importing communities by reducing administrative redundancy. The change will have no impact on the statutory regulations nor will it require a change in current district boundaries. Full implementation will begin on Feb. 1.

The Memphis Broker Management Officer is Supervisory Entry Specialist Janice Weems. License and/or permit fees should be sent to Weems at:

Memphis Area Service Port
3150 Tchulahoma Road
Suite 1
Memphis, TN 38118
(901) 544-0291

Supervisory Entry Specialist Patricia Burke, the New Orleans Broker Management Officer, will continue to process licensing and permit issues for individual licensed brokers and permitted corporations Louisiana and the portion of the state of Mississippi covered by the New Orleans Customs Broker District boundaries. License and/or permit fees should be sent to Patricia Burke at:

New Orleans Area Service Port
1515 Poydras Street
Suite 1700
New Orleans, LA 70112
(504) 670-2391

Source: http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/local/01282011_3.xml

Say Goodbye to the Homeland Security Advisory System

Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano is scheduled to speak about the “State of Homeland Security” at George Washington University today. Napolitano is expected to announce the end of the five-color threat advisory code that has been used since 2002. CNN reports that the new system will be called the National Terror Advisory System and will focus on threats in specific locations. This change was recommended by the Homeland Security Advisory Council in September 2009. The color-coded chart will be phased out over the next 90 days.

Get A Job! Part 3

Two weeks ago, we started a series on jobs in international trade. The first article introduced USAJOBs, the official job website of the U.S. government. Last week we explored jobs at the Department of Justice. This week, we will explore trade-related jobs at U.S. Customs & Border Protection.

As part of the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs & Border Protection “CBP” is now one of the largest government law enforcement agencies. By combining the employees of the U.S. Customs Service, U.S. Immigration, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, and the entire U.S. Border Patrol, CBP became the single unified border law enforcement agency within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). CBP is responsible for protecting U.S. borders while also facilitating trade and travel, enforcing import regulations and the regulations of more than 40 other government agencies. Let’s go see what types of jobs are available working for CBP!

On the CBP home page, you’ll find a tab titled “Careers” on the top right side of the page. The next page provides links to information such as study guides, instructions on how to apply, tips on how to prepare resumes and KSAs (knowledge, skills & abilities) and more. We should first review the types of CBP careers to determine the types of jobs that may interest us. Employing over 55,000 people, CBP offers positions on the frontline of law enforcement as well as support operations. Clicking on “About CBP Careers,” we find a list of positions, such as CBP Officer, CBP Agriculture Specialist, Border Patrol Agent, Import Specialist and Contract Specialist. Let’s take a look at a couple of jobs.

CBP OfficerThe CBP Officer's primary responsibility is to detect and prevent terrorists and weapons of mass destruction from entering the United States, while facilitating trade and travelers. This requires enforcing laws related to revenue and trade, seizure of contraband, interdiction of agricultural pests and diseases, and admissibility of persons. CBP Officers perform the full range of inspection, passenger and cargo analysis, examination and law enforcement activities relating to the arrival and departure of persons, merchandise, and conveyances such as cars, trucks, aircraft, and ships at the ports of entry. CBP Officers must wear a uniform, work overtime and/or shift work, qualify regularly with and carry firearms, and are subject to random drug testing. Newly hired employees must successfully complete 17 to 19 weeks of paid training at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Academy, located at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) near Brunswick, Georgia.

Some of the basic requirements for becoming a CBP officer include
• U.S. Citizen
• Under age 37 prior to selection.
• U.S. Resident
• Valid state driver’s license at the time of appointment.
• Physical and medical requirements related to vision, hearing and fitness

The application process for the CBP Officer consists of registration, a written test, interviewing, medical and fitness requirements and a background investigation. Instructions for the application process are contained in the vacancy announcement. CBP provides an FAQ document that answers a lot of questions concerning the process.

The starting salary of a CBP Officer is $31,315 or higher at the GS-5 level and $38,790 or higher at the GS-7 level. Advancement goes through the GS-12 level with a pay of $68,809. Rates may vary based on the assigned duty station.


Contract SpecialistCBP contract specialists negotiate, administer, close and terminate purchase orders and contracts. CBP purchases a wide variety of goods and services such as furniture, computer equipment, ammunition, surveillance equipment, maintenance services and training. Contract Specialists may be involved in developing, implementing and reviewing contracting plans for pre-award, post-award, price/cost analysis and a wide variety of procurement activities. The specialist will also provide advice and legal interpretation in all areas of contracting.

Minimum qualifications for Contract Specialist require completion of a 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor’s degree with a major in any field; or 24 semester hours in any combination of the following fields: accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management. Additional related experience may qualify the applicant for a GS-9 or GS-11 pay grade.


Scanning the list of jobs available with CBP on USAJobs.com today, we find a variety of positions such as Staff Assistant, Paralegal Specialist, Investigative Program Specicalist and International Trade Officer. The position of International Trade Officer sounds like an exciting and challenging job; however, that job would require me to leave the sunny warm state of Florida, so I’ll have to pass on it for now.

To learn more about jobs available at CBP, visit their website and select “Careers” or visit USAJOBS and search for positions under the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection. If you are serious about finding a job with the government, spend some time with these resources. Working for the government is a little different than the private sector, so learning the “language” can give you an advantage during the process.

Visit us next week when we explore jobs at the Department of Commerce!

BIS Announces Export Control Forum

The sixth annual Export Control Forum will be held on February 28 and March 1, 2011, in Irvine, California. Speakers from the Bureau of Industry and Security, Departments of State, Defense and Treasury will provide information on developments in export control.


Topics include:

• Jurisdiction
• Embargoes and Sanctions
• Enforcement
• Licensing Tips
• Online Services and Resources

Click HERE to learn more about the speakers, agenda and registration.

PACS - Mexico’s Version of C-TPAT

For the past few years, Mexico has been developing its own version of C-TPAT.  Programa Alianza para el Comercio Seguro (PACS), also called the Alliance for Secure Commerce, is set for launch sometime in the first half of 2011.  PACS is modeled on the World Customs Organization’s framework for secure trade, C-TPAT and Canada’s Partners in Protection.   In addition to prevention of terrorist activities, PACS seeks to reduce drug smuggling.  

Similar to C-TPAT, the program is voluntary and offers participating companies fewer inspections and faster clearance for meeting specified supply chain security requirements.   Unlike C-TPAT, PACS will initially limit participation to exporters of electronics, aerospace and automotive goods.    If the program is successful, it could lead to the U.S. recognizing PACS as compatible so that companies validated in one country are eligible to receive the same privileges in the other without inspection of Mexican facilities by U.S. officials.   CBP is currently working with Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to accept validations of participating Canadian companies.

Electronic Bond Submission

On January 18, 2011, CBP’s Revenue Division started to process and maintain bonds electronically. In order to submit bonds electronically, every attachment must be converted into a TIF format, preferably no larger than 300 dpi. Consolidation of all documents into a single attachment is recommended. CBP provides a suggested order for submission of documents. Multiple copies are no longer necessary. Sureties will be notified of approval via email. Although CBP will allow some notifications to be issued by regular mail, these notifications of approval could take up to six months longer than the email notification. The longer notification period may be designed to encourage participation by email, which will expedite the process, decrease the use of paper and reduce costs.


General questions about bond processing, as well as specific questions about the status of a particular bond application should be directed to (317) 614-4880, or via email to cbp.bondquestions@dhs.gov.

Click HERE for additional information.

Get a Job! Part 2

Last week we started a series on jobs in international trade.   The first article introduced USAJOBs, the official job website of the U.S. government.  For the next few weeks, we will focus on jobs with the individual government agencies.   Since the Department of Justice “DOJ” inspired the idea for this series, we will explore trade-related jobs available at the DOJ.

Before we search for jobs, it is important to know a little about the Department of Justice.    Some of the well-known agencies that make up the DOJ include the FBI, DEA, ATFE, Attorney General and U.S. Marshals.  The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act “FCPA” is a popular trade topic and enforced by the Criminal Division.  In a nutshell, the DOJ is a collection of law enforcement agencies that prevent and control crime and require punishment for those committing crimes while ensuring equitable justice for U.S. citizens.

If you click on  “Get a Job,” you will find information about working as an attorney or special agent.   The DOJ provides internship opportunities for law students.    The DOJ has a special process for hiring entry-level attorneys.   Because the DOJ deals with legal issues in almost every legal topic, they are known as the “largest law firm” in the nation. Attorneys can work in areas such as antitrust, trade regulation, banking, civil rights, cyber crime, criminal, constitutional, securities, transportation and tax law.   The department even offers some assistance with repayment of student loans!  Attorney salaries range from $50,000 per year for entry level to $130,000 for experienced attorneys.  Click HERE to explore some of the opportunities for attorneys at the DOJ.

Now, let’s look at some of the special agent positions available.  The FBI also offers internships to college students.   Due to the sensitive and demanding nature of the position, the qualifications for employment are rigorous.   Some of the basic requirements to become an agent include:

·         U.S. Citizen

·         Minimum 23 years of age and maximum of 37

·         Four-year degree from accredited college

·         Three years professional work experience

Additionally, candidates must pass various physical tests, which include strict vision, hearing and physical fitness requirements.  The FBI also offers positions for linguists, intelligence analysts, surveillance and information technology.

The jobs available at the DOJ are too numerous to cover here.  For those who are interested in working in trade-related fields, some of the suggested agencies include:

Division                       Field

Antitrust                       Antitrust, Trade Regulation, International

Civil                             Customs/Trade, Immigration, International

Criminal                       Customs/Trade, Immigration, International

Civil Rights                  Immigration

To learn more about these jobs, visit the DOJ website and select “Get a Job” or visit USAJOBS and search for positions at the Department of Justice.

Visit us next week when we explore jobs at U.S. Customs & Border Protection!

P.S.  The DOJ website also provides a link that allows you to “Locate a Prison, Inmate or Sex Offender.”  That one caught my attention too, so thought I would mention it for those of you who might need to find someone from your past!

Dieters Beware!

With the start of a new year, many people make resolutions to improve some aspect of their lives. One of the top resolutions is to lose weight. If you are on a mission to lose weight, beware of the dangers of seeking a quick fix or a way to jumpstart your weight loss.

In December 2010, Mimi Trieu pleaded guilty on multiple counts of mail fraud, conspiracy to smuggle illegal merchandise and distributing a schedule IV controlled substance. If she is

convicted, Trieu could receive a maximum of 243 years in prison and $4.5 million fine.

Trieu imported and sold diet pills containing Sibutramine and other dangerous substances that were not approved by the FDA. The diet pills were smuggled from China described as “gifts” and falsely advertised the illegal diet pills as containing natural ingredients. She did not disclose that the pills contained Sibutramine.

It would be nice to find a magical solution to make those 10 to 15 pounds disappear quickly, but don’t be tempted by diet pills. If you are tempted, please be sure to read the labels and only purchase from reputable sources.

19 CFR Updated to Amend Protest Filing Requirements

The Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act of 2004 amended several statutes that changed the way CBP handles protests. Since the Trade Act if 2004 went into effect on December 18, 2004, significant changes to Parts 173 and 174 were implemented, yet no changes were made to the official regulations. This was often confusing to people who read the regulations and were not familiar with the new 180-day provision. For the last six years, Part 174 of the regulations continued to show that protests must be filed within 90 days from liquidation and Part 173.4 continued to show clerical errors, mistakes of fact and inadvertences could be corrected within one year after liquidation by requesting reliquidation. Finally, the changes are being made to the actual regulations, which include Parts 145, 159, 173 and 174. A short summary of the most important changes is provided below.


Part 173.0 – 173.4
Since the repeal of 19 U.S.C. 1520(c) and 1521, the provisions in 173.0 – 173.4 only apply to entries made prior December 18, 2004.

Part 174.11
Protest is the proper mechanism for challenging clerical errors, mistakes of fact and other inadvertences since 19 U.S.C. 1520(c) was repealed.

Part 174.12
This section was modified to authorize electronic filing of protests. Protests filed electronically are not required to be filed in quadruplicate.

The time for filing protests was extended from 90 days to 180 days after liquidation, reliquidation or date of the decision necessitating the protest. The 180-day period runs from the date of liquidation or reliquidation and NOT from the date of the notice.

174.14
Protests may be amended any time prior to the expiration of the 180-day period within the original protest may be filed. This includes electronic amendments.

174.32
CBP must publish or make available protest review decisions within 90 days after issuance.


Source:
“Technical Corrections: Matters Subject to Protest and Various Protest Time Limits.” Federal Register 76:10 (14 January 2011). Retrieved from http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2011/pdf/2011-679.pdf

Get a Job! Part I

Recently while conducting research for an article, the words “Get a Job” on the Department of Justice website got my attention.   Since there are still millions of people unemployed, underemployed, unhappily employed or employed and looking for something different, I decided to dedicate a series of blog articles to jobs in international trade.  

Let’s start the series with government jobs in international trade.  There are several ways to find international trade-related jobs with government agencies.  One of the most popular methods to find government jobs is to use USAJOBS, the official job site of the U.S. Government.  This website allows users to create accounts, search for jobs with any federal agency, automate job searches and apply for jobs. The website also provides tutorials on how to search and apply for jobs.  Users can create accounts to set up job searches and store resumes; however, it is not necessary to set up an account to search.  Users can customize searches based on agency, location and keywords.  The site also provides lists of jobs that are in demand and those that are most popular.  Clicking on the Jobs in Demand link today shows that Patent Examiners are in demand.  You can view the basics such as location and salary.  If you see a job that interests you, click on the job title and the details on location, salary duties, benefits, requirements, etc. appear.

If you wanted to work for a specific agency, such as the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection, you could select the “Browse Jobs” option.  Under “Agency,” scroll down to Department of Homeland Security, expand and select Customs and Border Protection. Today's results show positions for Import Specialists and Telecommunications Specialists in various locations.  Scroll through the pages until finding a job that interests you and click on the title.   

Before investing time in applying for jobs, it is important to review the information provided and follow the instructions.   For example, the Telecommunications Specialist position can be filled by all U.S. citizens.  Some of the jobs require the applicant to already have status as a government employee.  If relocation is necessary, check to see if relocation expenses are paid.  Review the duties to determine if you can fulfill them and have interest in doing these tasks.  Review the qualifications to determine if you meet the minimum requirements to be considered.   Government jobs often allow the substitution of education for the required experience, so don’t overlook that option.  If you decide to apply for the position, follow the instructions provided.   After you have submitted the required documents, you will receive electronic notification that your documents have been received.  Now, it’s time to sit back and wait.  You should receive another notification stating whether you are qualified or not qualified for the position.   If you are qualified, then the next notification you receive will be to let you know if your application was submitted to the hiring official for consideration.  The last notification will inform you of the final disposition.

This concludes our tour of USAJOBS.   Since the DOJ was kind enough to post a catchy phrase to provide information about their jobs,  we’ll discuss jobs available at the Department of Justice next week.  To the readers who love their jobs, please consider passing this on to your children and friends to give them an idea of what types of jobs might be available for them. 

Customs Brokers Permit Fees Due

In today’s Federal Register, CBP posted a reminder that the annual user fee of $138 for each permit held by a broker is due by March 18, 2011.   CBP also noted that payment for the annual user fee is anticipated to be due on or about January 20 in subsequent years.