US Customs & Border Protection Lifts e-freight Freeze and Approves Expansion

US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Director of Cargo Control advised CNS on August 9, 2011 that the temporary freeze placed on e-freight had been lifted on current airports and agreed that CBP would work with CNS and IATA to move forward with expansion of the program for inbound general cargo.  

Since this advisory was received, CNS has continued working with CBP to develop a phased in approach for all of the US Customs gateways and major CBP Ports in the United States and Puerto Rico.   The focus to date is to phase in CBP District Field Offices and open all the ports under each of them.  CNS is also working with CBP Office of Field Operations to develop a webinar based delivery and to get most all of the ports up and running in the next few months. 

In another development we have been working with CBP on outbound e-freight to improve the process with the assistance of the e-freight working group.  This would be in a pilot while also working in conjunction with CBP’s decision to develop and export electronic system in the next 18 months under the new Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) for all modes.

These have been very positive steps that should allow additional ports, forwarders and airlines to be able to participate in e-freight.  Already we have received over 20 requests by air carriers to be approved by CBP for adding ports to the growing list of e-freight locations.  

CNS will work with members and the government to develop solutions and to work through issues as the program is developed.  We will also be looking at ways to begin including inbond movements between arrival gateways and inland ports so as to provide a true electronic system capability for the air cargo industry.

Airline/Forwarder Support 

For airlines and forwarders this is the opportunity to fully become engaged in e-freight.  Airline support is needed to begin offering e-freight including receiving master and house waybills for general cargo electronically in every available trade lane and port into the United States.  Air carriers should begin storing your transport documents within your system electronically and have the capability to for print on demand as requested by CBP.

Forwarders should be contacting their airline partners to start discussions on electronic legal agreements, developing a startup plan with their airline partners to start implementation.  

Your support in using these capabilities within your company is important to ensure we move toward 100% e-freight in and out of the United States.