CSMS Message: 98-000509

TITLE VI OF THE NORTH AMERICAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT IMPLEMENTATION
ACT, SUBTITLE B, ESTABLISHING THE NATIONAL CUSTOMS AUTOMATION PROGRAM
(NCAP) SECTION 411(2)A DEFINES ELECTRONIC FINILNG AND QUERY OF PROTESTS
AND 520 CLAIMS AS A "PLANNED COMPONENT" OF THE NCAP.
A SYSTEM FOR ELECTRONIC FILING AND QUERY OF PROTESTS AND CLAIMS WAS
DEVELOPED WITHIN THE AUTOMATED COMMERCIAL SYSTEM AND AUTOMATED BROKER
INTERFACE (ABI) ENVIRONMENTS.
THE TEST OF THIS SYSTEM WAS ANNOUNCED IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER,
JANUARY 30, 1996. THE FIRST PHASE OF THE TEST WAS INAUGURATED IN MAY, 1996
THERE WERE 57 INQUIRIES FROM SOFTWARE VENDORS, CUSTOMS BROKERS, IMPORTERS
AND LEGAL FIRMS. OF THOSE, 15 FILERS VOLUNTEERED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE
TEST. CUSTOMS SELECTED THE PORTS OF NEW YORK, BALTIMORE, BUFFALO,
PHILADELPHIA, CHICAGO, LOS ANGELES, LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AS
TEST PORTS.
THE SECOND PHASE OF THE TEST BEGAN IN NOVEMBER, 1996 AND ENDED IN
APRIL, 1997. DURING THAT PHASE ADDITIONAL CUSTOMS ENTRY AND IMPORT
SPECIALIST PERSONNEL WERE TRAINED AND THE TEST EXPANDED TO 15 PORTS.
IN ITS MOST RECENT NOTICE, PUBLISHED IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER
(SEPTEMBER, 1997), CUSTOMS ANNOUNCED THAT ELECTRONIC FLING OF PROTESTS
AND 520 CLAIMS IS NOW OPEN TO ANY INTERESTED PARTY. TWENTY-SEVEN PORTS
HAVE BEEN TRAINED IN THE OPERATION OF THE SYSTEM.
.
USING THE AUTOMATED BROKER INTERFACE (ABI) TO SEND RECORDS TO CUSTOMS
AUOMATED COMMERCIAL SYSTEM (ACS), YOU CAN NOW FILE THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS
ELECTRONICALLY:
PETITIONS FOR REFUNDS OF CUSTOMS DUTIES OR CORRECTIONS
OF ERRORS REQUIRING RELIQUIDATION PURSUANT TO 19 U.S.C.
1520(C) AND (D)
.
PROTESTS AGAINST DECISIONS OF THE CUSTOMS SERVICE
UNDER 19 U.S.C. 1514
.
INTERVENTIONS IN AN IMPORTER'S PROTEST BY AN
EXPORTER OR PRODUCER OF MERCHANDISE FROM A
COUNTRY THAT IS A PARTY TO THE NORTH AMERICAN
FREE TRADE AGREEMENT UNDER SECTION 181.115
OF THE CUSTOMS REGULATIONS.
.
YOU MAY SUBMIT ADMENDMENTS AND ADDENDA AFTER THE INITIAL FILING,
INCLUDING: APPLY FOR FURTHER REVIEW; ASSERT ADDITIONAL CLAIMS OR
CHALLENGE AN ADDITIONAL DECISION; SUBMIT ALTERNATIVE CLAIMS AND ADDITIONAL
GROUNDS OR ARGUMENTS; REQUEST REVIEW OF DENIAL OF FURTHER REVIEW; REQUEST
ACCELERATED DISPOSITION; REQUEST DENIAL BE VOIDED; QUERY PROTEST STATUS.
YOU RECEIVE AUTOMATIC NOTIFICATION OF ALL PROTEST REVIEW EVENTS,
INCLUDING FINAL DECISIONS- ELECTRONICALLY.
THE FOLLOW PORTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR ELECTRONIC FILING AND QUERY OF
PROTESTS-
0201 ST ALBANS, VT 0401 BOSTON 0712 CHAMPLAIN
0901 BUFFALO 1001 NEW YORK AREA 1101 PHILADELPHIA
1303 BALTIMORE 1512 CHARLOTTE 1601 CHARELSTON
1703 SAVANNAH 1704 ATLANTA 1803 JACKSONVILLE
1901 MOBILE 2002 NEW ORLEANS 2304 LAREDO
2402 EL PASO 2501 SAN DIEGO 2704 LOS ANGELES
2720 LAX 2809 SAN FRANCISCO 2904 PORTLAND, ORE
3001 SEATTLE 3801 DETROIT 3901 CHICAGO
4101 CLEVELAND/COLUMBUS 5201 MIAMI 5301 HOUSTON
5401 WASHINGTON/DULLES 5501 DALLAS/FT WORTH
.
SUBMIT ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS REGARDING CUSTOMS POLICIES AND
PROCEDURES FOR PROTESTS AND CLAIMS TO:
MR. NEIL SHANNON
OFFICE OF TRADE COMPLIANCE
U.S. CUSTOMS SERVICE
1300 CONSTITUTION AVENUE, N.W.
WASHINGTON, DC 20229
.
SUBMIT ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING ABI RECORDS OR ELECTRONIC SYSTEM
FOR FILING AND QUERYING PROTESTS AND CLAIMS TO:
STEVE LINNEMANN
OFFICE OF AUTOMATED COMMERCIAL SYSTEMS
U.S. CUSTOMS SERVICE
1300 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, N.W. ROOM 6.3D
WASHINGTON, DC 20229