CBP Announces eBond Test
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has announced that, beginning Jan. 3, 2015, it will conduct a test of its new automated eBond system that provides for the transmission of electronic bond contracts between principals and sureties, with CBP as a third-party beneficiary.
The test is intended to evaluate the automation of CBP’s bond program, its impact on trade, and CBP’s ability to enforce applicable laws and protect revenue. The test is expected to run for two years. Requests to participate and comments on any aspect of the test may be submitted to CBP at any time during the testing period. Information on how to submit comments and on how to request to participate can be found in the Federal Register notice and on the
CBP website.
During the test, parts of 19 CFR § 113 of the customs regulations will be suspended or modified.
CBP announced the eBond Test in the Nov. 28, 2014, Federal Register Notice (Vol. 79, No. 229). The entire notice is available online and can be accessed by clicking
here.
The NASBP Commercial Surety Committee has been monitoring plans for the prototype eBond system and for the test. NASBP invites all members and affiliates who participate to let NASBP know about their participation and also to send comments about the system to NASBP Director of Professional Development Liz Wise at
lwise@nasbp.org.