U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has published Version 2.0 of “Customs Broker Guidance for the Trade Community” which provides the customs broker community with the necessary tools and information to conduct their customs business in compliance with CBP regulations.

Changes in Version 2.0 are:

·        Chapter 3 – Broker Examination Process:

o Changed “appealers” to “appellants” throughout the chapter.

o Section D.  Center Role in the Examination Process – License application instructions letter: Changed the 3rd bullet to “Link to online PDF of CBP Form 3124.  Changed the final bullet to “The email address, and/or the mailing address where the completed application may be sent."

·        Chapter 4 – Broker License Process:

o Section B, sub-section 2 – Changed to “The application (CBP Form 3124) with original legal signature of a partner who holds a broker license with sufficient agency to serve as the license qualifier and bind the brokerage.”

o Section B, sub-section 3 – Changed to “The application (CBP Form 3124) with original legal signature of an officer who holds a broker license with sufficient agency to serve as the license qualifier and bind the brokerage.”

·        Chapter 5 – National Permit:

o Section A, sub-section 3 – Changed to “A licensed customs broker must employ a licensed individual broker who will exercise responsible supervision and control over the activities conducted under the national permit. The licensed employee exercising responsible supervision and control over the national permit is not required to be an officer of the corporation or member of the partnership.”

·        Chapter 9 – Filer Code Maintenance:

o Added language to Section E. Suspension of a Filer Code.

·        Chapter 10 – Broker Oversight:

o Section A. Responsible Supervision and Control – Added language on general broker duties and responsibilities.

o Section B. Broker Reporting Requirements – Revised language in the Submitting Documentation and Reporting to CBP list related to separation from a client.

o Section F. Power of Attorney – Language revised to “Brokers must keep POAs received from the client (email, mail, fax) on file with their other records. POAs must be retained until revoked, and revoked POAs and letters of revocation must be retained for five years after the date of revocation or for five years after the date the client ceases to be an active client, whichever period is later. An “active client” means a client from whom a broker has obtained a POA and for whom the broker has transacted customs business on at least two occasions within the preceding 12-month period.”

To read and download the updated Customs Broker Guidance, please visit the Customs Broker Modernization Regulations webpage:  https://www.cbp.gov/trade/programs-administration/customs-brokers/modernization

CBP is committed to ensuring the broker community’s compliance with CBP regulations and enhancing its ability to serve the trade community. CBP will continue to update the Customs Broker Guidance as needed.