Capitulo 3.
Chapter 3: Making International Shipments Easier and Less Expensive Streamlining U.S. Government export reporting requirements, services, and processes as well as modernizing U.S. infrastructure
U.S. exporters face challenges when trying to navigate rules, find solutions, meet paperwork requirements, and more in order to ensure goods reach their final international customers. Those challenges can translate into costs and delays for companies, especially SMEs. To make it easier for businesses to export, federal government agencies are working to implement a “Single Window” system among the dozens of agencies with control authorities to better orchestrate customs processing at the border, streamline service, and simplify data and document requirements.
The Obama Administration’s efforts to improve infrastructure also ensure that exporters’ products reach customers. Recent legislation emphasizes the movement of freight and the modernization of the infrastructure permitting process in order to strengthen exports. Efforts are also being made to increase private capital in U.S. infrastructure investments.
Implementing a “Single Window” to Save Time and Money
U.S. traders and the U.S. Government will save time and costs with streamlined and automated processes.
The February 2014 Executive Order 13659—Streamlining the Export/Import Process for America’s Businesses (go.usa.gov/ xKtJw)—calls for the development and delivery of the “Single Window” (or, the International Trade Data System [ITDS]) for exports and imports by December 31, 2016. The order envisions not only automating current customs and border processes but also transforming U.S. border management for the global economy.
When fully implemented, ITDS, which is being deployed as part of U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Automated Commercial Environment (ACE), will serve as the primary system through which the trade community will submit export and import data and through which the federal government will determine cargo admissibility, clearance, and release. ITDS will significantly reduce or eliminate the use of paper forms as well as streamline and automate trade processes, allowing exporters and importers to file information required by multiple agencies one time and in one system. In doing so, the Single Window system will help improve the competitiveness of U.S. companies and their supply chains, while helping to protect our national security, public health and safety, the environment, and natural resources.
Additional benefits of ITDS to the trade community are expected to include the following:
• Certainty regarding documentation requirements and certification • Efficiency gains from reduced administrative time and costs incurred during the import/export process • Efficiency gains and cost savings throughout the value chain, including inventory management, logistics forecasting, and related marketing and growth strategies
2016 National Export Strategy 27 Chapter 3
Progress on the Single Window Since the issuance of the Executive Order, DHS, in close partnership with the dozens of other federal agencies with a role in trade (portrayed as participating government agencies [PGAs] in the illustration below), has made significant progress in developing and deploying ITDS capabilities and is on track to meet the 2016 deadline.
Highlights since the announcement of the Executive Order include the following:
• CBP and the Census Bureau inaugurated a “re-engineered” Automated Export System (AES) as part of ACE that provides expanded processing capabilities. • The Census Bureau and CBP initiated an Advanced Export Information pilot program in which selected exporters agreed to submit a limited set of electronic export information in accordance with existing filing deadlines followed by the full set of data elements submitted within five calendar days of the date of export. • CBP and Census have successfully transitioned the AESDirect web-based export filing functionality to the ACE platform, providing a single window for exports as of December 2015. • As directed by the Executive Order, DHS and the many agencies with trade-related responsibilities are working through the Border Interagency Executive Council (BIEC) to develop policies that use ITDS capabilities to measurably improve supply chain processes and the identification of illicit and non-compliant shipments. The BIEC’s External Engagement Committee is coordinating engagement with advisory committees, industry, international partners, and other stakeholders on ITDS and related efforts to enhance supply chain processes. CBP’s BIEC website (go.usa.gov/xKtJf) provides details about the Single Window program, testing schedules, webinars, and other information. • CBP is in the process of deploying the remaining technical capabilities in ACE to meet the export processing needs for all agencies and all modes of transportation, thereby eliminating paper requirements.10 CBP also will continue to develop and deploy automated outbound manifest capabilities for all modes of transportation. Ocean and rail are currently in the piloting phase, and additional pilots for air and truck will be underway soon.
10 AES requires commodity data to be filed to meet the export reporting requirements of the Department of Commerce’s U.S. Census Bureau, the Bureau of Industry and Security, and the State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls. Businesses will soon be able to submit data in AES to satisfy the requirements of other agencies that currently require reporting on paper.
2016 National Export Strategy 28 Chapter 3
Facilitating and Speeding Goods to Market through Domestic Infrastructure Improvements
Improving America’s Infrastructure to Facilitate Trade A safe, efficient, and well-functioning transportation system is critical to America’s economic future. Our nation’s economy relies on our transportation system to move people and goods safely, facilitate commerce, attract and retain businesses, and support jobs. Directly related to getting U.S. exports to their final destinations, the U.S. transportation system moves more than 54 million tons of freight worth nearly $48 billion each day, or almost 63 tons of freight per person per year. Freight tonnage is expected to increase 45 percent by 2040.
Despite the importance of the transportation sector to America’s economic future, over time the amount of investment in U.S. transportation infrastructure as a percentage of GDP has dropped significantly. The costs of inadequate infrastructure investment are exhibited all around us. One study estimates that roadway congestion delays cost shippers approximately $10 billion per year.11 Sixty-five percent of the United States’ major roads are in less than good condition, and one in four bridges requires significant repair or cannot handle current traffic demands. Closing the transportation infrastructure deficit is a priority of the Obama Administration and USDOT.
Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act) On December 4, 2015, President Obama signed into law the FAST Act, the five-year surface transportation authorization. It is the first law enacted in more than 10 years that provides long-term funding certainty for surface transportation, meaning states and local governments can move forward with critical transportation projects with the confidence that they will have a Federal partner over the long term.
The FAST Act includes a number of provisions focused on ensuring the safe, efficient, and reliable movement of freight. It establishes a National Multimodal Freight Policy that includes national goals to guide decision-making and requires the development of a National Freight Strategic Plan (www.transportation.gov/
The FAST Act creates a new discretionary freight-focused grant program, the Nationally Significant Freight and Highway Projects (also known as the Fostering Advancements in Shipping and Transportation for the Long-term Achievement of National Efficiencies [FASTLANE]), which will invest $4.5 billion over five years. The FASTLANE program allows states, metropolitan planning organizations, local governments, tribal governments, special purpose districts and public authorities (including port authorities), and other parties to apply for funding to complete projects that improve safety and hold the greatest promise to eliminate freight bottlenecks and improve critical freight movements. The FAST Act authorizes $800 million in funding for the FASTLANE program for fiscal year 2016, with 25 percent reserved for rural projects and 10 percent reserved for smaller projects. For the first time in USDOT’s 50-year history, the program establishes broad, multiyear eligibilities for freight infrastructure, including intermodal projects.
The FAST Act establishes a National Highway Freight Program and provides $6.3 billion in formula funds over five years for states to invest in freight projects on the National Highway Freight Network (go.usa.gov/xKtJA), with up to 10 percent of these funds eligible for use in intermodal projects.
In addition, the FAST Act includes new authorities and requirements to improve project delivery (go.usa.gov/xKtJ7) and facilitate innovative finance (go.usa.gov/xKtJs). The FAST Act includes provisions intended to reduce the time it takes to break ground on
11 Cost calculation is in year 2000 dollars. Clifford Winston and Ashley Langer, “The Effect of Government Highway Spending on Road Users’ Congestion Costs,” Journal of Urban Economics 60 (May 2006), quoted in U. S. General Accountability Office, “Freight Transportation, National Policy and Strategies Can Help Improve Freight Mobility,” GAO-08-287, January 2008, pp. 18–19.
2016 National Export Strategy 29 Chapter 3
new freight transportation projects, including by promoting best contracting practices and innovating financing and funding opportunities and by reducing uncertainty and delays with respect to environmental reviews and permitting.
Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) The importance of freight movements to the vitality of the U.S. economy was also recognized in MAP-21, the two-year, $105 billion surface transportation reauthorization signed by the President in July 2012 and subsequently extended through May 2015. MAP-21 established a national freight policy and program that will better allow the United States to compete in the global economy. MAP-21 required USDOT to establish a National Freight Strategic Plan (detailed in the next section) and designate certain freight networks. MAP-21 also encouraged States to develop a state freight plan and establish a state freight advisory committee.
National Freight Strategic Plan In October 2015, USDOT released a draft National Freight Strategic Plan for public comment. The public comment period extended through April 25, 2016. USDOT is currently reviewing the comments received and intends to release a final Plan later in 2016.
The Plan will address the conditions and performance of the multimodal freight system and will identify strategies and best practices to improve the intermodal connectivity and performance of the national freight system and to mitigate the impacts of freight movement on communities.
Build America Bureau To put private capital to work in revitalizing U.S. infrastructure, the President launched the government-wide Build America Investment Initiative in July 2014, including establishment of the USDOT Build America Transportation Investment Center (BATIC). BATIC has expanded the Department’s ability to meet the needs of the nation’s transportation system. BATIC serves as a single point of contact and coordination for states, municipalities, and project sponsors looking to use federal transportation expertise, apply for federal transportation credit programs, and explore ways to access private capital in public private partnerships. Since BATIC’s formation, USDOT has closed more than $10 billion in financing to support $26 billion in projects.
On July 20, 2016, USDOT launched the Build America Bureau (www.transportation.gov/
TIGER FY 2016 (TIGER Round Eight) On July 29, 2016, USDOT selected 40 projects to receive the $500 million in TIGER funding available in 2016. The TIGER program supports innovative, multimodal, and multijurisdictional projects aimed at solving tough transportation challenges, including improving freight movement and efficiency. As has been the case in past rounds, freight-related projects awarded during TIGER FY 2016 will help speed delivery of products from American factories, farms, and businesses to customers across the United States and around the world. Since 2009, the TIGER grant program has provided a combined $5.1 billion to 421 projects in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, and tribal communities. These federal funds leverage money from private-sector partners, states, local governments, metropolitan planning organizations and transit agencies.
2016 National Export Strategy 30 Chapter 3
Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) and Trusted Trader Designations: Helping Businesses Save Time and Money In June 2015, U.S. exporters began participating in the CBP C-TPAT program (go.usa.gov/ xKtJH) to expedite U.S. exporter cargo out of the United States. C-TPAT is a voluntary anti-terrorism program that allows companies to join free of cost by partnering with CBP in analyzing their international supply chains for security issues and making those chains more secure. The focus of the program is to facilitate legitimate trade so that CBP officers can spend more time on companies that wish to do harm to the United States.
In return for being part of the program, C-TPAT partners are considered to be low-risk exporters and CBP officers give them priority at ports of export because of the partners’ transparency in the areas of cargo security and export compliance. Being identified as a low-risk or trusted trader with CBP means that companies can receive fewer inspections and that CBP, when possible, assists them in the facilitation of their cargo out of ports of departure. The outcome of that assistance results in time and cost savings for the companies involved. Exporters approved this program are in good standing with all other exportregulating agencies and help create an environment that promotes security and awareness—ultimately resulting in the streamlining of export processes for both the private sector and the U.S. Government.
C-TPAT has also partnered with foreign customs trade programs that have mutual recognition arrangements (MRAs) with CBP in the movement of U.S. exports. Once officers at foreign ports identify U.S. cargo as being that of a C-TPAT partner, they expedite entry. CBP has signed 11 MRAs with the following markets: Canada, Dominican Republic, the EU, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan. Upon the signing of additional MRAs with other countries, exporters participating in the C-TPAT will have even more opportunities to be rewarded for increasing their level of security and compliance measures while fostering legitimate global exports.
Supply Chain and Seaport Competitiveness: 21st-Century U.S. Port Competitiveness Initiative Supply chains are a crucial component of the national economy. Collectively, they comprise the comprehensive, end-to-end ecosystem that links U.S. producers and industries with their sources and consumers and the global economy. The efficiency and productivity of U.S. supply chains, and the trade infrastructure through which their goods and products move from origin to destination, is key to the United States’ ability to catalyze economic development and job growth, attract domestic and international investment, and successfully compete in the global marketplace.
In January 2016, Commerce’s Advisory Committee on Supply Chain Competitiveness (ACSCC) reported that congestion at U.S. ports and other points in the intermodal system has become a serious risk factor for America’s supply chains and our nation’s economic and trade growth. The ACSCC’s recommendations noted that a number of seaports have implemented practices that have led to a reduction in congestion. These practices include improving communication among shippers, terminals, and carriers to increase port efficiency; implementing better operating practices at ports to facilitate cargo flow; and expanding data-sharing to improve cargo movement fluidity.
In March 2016, Commerce Secretary Pritzker, Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, and Labor Secretary Thomas Perez brought together national leaders from ports, labor, shippers, and retail companies to find ways to improve U.S. regional and economic growth. At the meeting, Secretary Pritzker announced that she is convening a series of port stakeholder roundtables, at which end-to-end U.S. supply chains, ports, and stakeholders will identify best practices in coordination, communication, and information-sharing that ports can use to optimize their operations and efficiency. The first roundtable was held in April in Los Angeles/Long Beach, CA. The results of the regional roundtables—along with public input on port congestion and efficiency issues—are being used to develop a best practices report for U.S. seaport use.
2016 National Export Strategy 31 Chapter 3
Advisory Committee on Supply Chain Competitiveness (ACSCC) The Department of Commerce established the ACSCC in 2011 to provide the Secretary of Commerce with recommendations on a holistic policy approach to improve the competitiveness of U.S. supply chains for goods and services in the domestic and global economy. The ACSCC also advises the Secretary on regulatory policies and programs and investment priorities that affect the competitiveness of U.S. supply chains. The Secretary of Transportation is an ex-officio member of the ACSCC.
• The ACSCC’s input was used in the President’s Executive Order in 2014 to complete the Single Window (highlighted earlier) by December 2016. The ACSCC provided comments and recommendations to the Secretary for use in developing and implementing the Single Window and a North American Single Window once the U.S. system has been completed. The ACSCC continues to offer key advice on how to improve this process going forward. • In September 2014, the ACSCC recommended that the federal government use certain supply chain industry techniques to identify U.S. freight projects and performance measures that would provide the maximum benefit to the national flow of freight. The Department of Commerce shared the ACSCC’s freight recommendations with USDOT. These recommendations were considered by USDOT as part of the National Freight Advisory Committee’s (NFAC) mid-2014 development of recommendations for consideration in the development of the draft National Freight Strategic Plan. USDOT established the NFAC in 2013 to provide advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Transportation on matters related to freight transportation in the United States. The Secretary of Commerce is an ex-officio member of NFAC. • The Department of Commerce’s work with industry in response to these recommendations led to the first methodology for measuring the impacts of freight system infrastructure conditions on the competitiveness of U.S. firms in domestic commerce and international trade.
|
use this link,,penny stock alerts
ResponderEliminar