Committee Updates

Must be an AAEI member to attend Committee meetings.

Automotive & Aerospace

Automotive & Aerospace Industry members work to streamline their entry processes through AAEI outreach to with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Defense Department and the State Department.

Committee members are discussing trade issues that affect the automotive industry. Meanwhile, a committee working group is holding bi-monthly meetings with CBP and the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) to address concerns about specific inefficiencies in the import process for the Defense industry. 

Committee Targets: Expanding to include automotive industry concerns; streamlining importer compliance for 9808 Military Duty-Free Provision; use of AI in the import process

Next Meeting: Date and Time TBA in Early 2024

Border Interagency

The Border Interagency Committee focuses on the top Partner Government Agencies (PGAs) affecting trade. Guest speakers from PGAs are invited to discuss the current trade issues they are working on and answer questions from AAEI Members.

Committee Targets:  One U.S. Government at the Border (1USG); Harmonized entry processes for all PGAs.

Next Meeting: Date and Time TBA in Early 2024

Customs Policy and Procedures

The Customs Committee meets monthly to work on operational and regulatory issues involving U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Two of the committee’s top issues are Forced Labor enforcement, including the implementation of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), and the 21st Century Customs Framework initiative.

Committee Targets: Progress on Forced Labor, 21CCF, understanding corporate compliance for new broker regulations; Trusted Trader.

Next Meeting, Out-of-Cycle: Wednesday, December 20, 2023 at 1:30 p.m. EST

Drawback and Duty Deferral

AAEI’s Drawback Committee focuses on regulatory changes and administrative problems on same-condition and substitution drawback and special duty deferral programs, such as temporary import bond entries.

Committee Targets: Privilege application and ruling delays; Inconsistencies in direction with drawback filing at The Centers; Export manifest for proof of export

Next Meeting: Thursday, December 7, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. EST

Export and Global Trade Compliance

AAEI’s Export and Global Trade Compliance Committee supports members engaged in U.S. export transactions and members with responsibility for trade operations and trade compliance programs globally. Discussion issues include export controls, sanctions programs, foreign barriers to U.S. exports, and the various regional challenges facing international compliance teams, such as monitoring trade developments around the world and addressing different local standards globally.

The committee hosted a member webinar from on the European Unions new carbon (CBAM) and deforestation (EUDR) regulations, which add global trade compliance requirements for importers with responsibilities in the EU. 

Committee targets: Advocacy for Export Modernization; compliance requirements for international sanctions; global trade compliance; leveraging global partnerships with regional trade associations; World Customs Organization advisory; multilateral trade coalitions.

Next Meeting: Date and Time TBA in Early 2024

Healthcare Industries

AAEI’s Healthcare Industry Committee meets quarterly to work on improvements for import compliance with the Food and Drug Administration and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Some of the current issues include updating intended use codes and Import for Export, which allows companies to import an unapproved product for further processing and exported out of the U.S. at a later date.

The committee will begin quarterly meetings with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with a guest appearance at its next meeting.

Committee targets: Improving intended use codes; Recommendations for FDA on Import for Export (IFE)

Next Meeting: Wednesday, December 13, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. EST

Textiles, Apparel and Footwear

AAEI’s Textiles Committee holds bi-monthly meetings to focus on the challenges facing companies in the textiles industry, including high duty rates and Forced Labor enforcement. This committee works closely with U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Committee targets: Enforcement of Forced Labor Prevention laws involving apparel and footwear; First sale; Section 301 tariffs; Tracking e-commerce compliance

Next Meeting: Date and Time TBA in Early 2024

Trade Policy

AAEI’s Trade Policy Committee focuses on U.S. trade policy, including free trade agreements, tariff-rate quotas and trade preference programs.

Committee targets: 2023 US trade policy; Section 301 tariffs review at USTR; MTB/GSP Passage; Monitoring impact of TRQs

Next Meeting: Tuesday, December 19, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. EST

Transpacific

AAEI’s Transpacific Committee works on challenges facing companies doing business with Pacific Rim countries, including port congestion and supply chain resiliency.

Committee targets: Implementation of 2022 Ocean Shipping Reform Act and ; FMC engagement; Demurrage and detention billing; supply chain infrastructure

Next Meeting, Out-of-Cycle: Tuesday, December 19, 2023 at 3:30 p.m. EST