In a Federal Register notice published on December 24, 2015, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced the upcoming meeting of the Commercial Operations Advisory Committee (COAC), held in New Orleans, LA on January 13, 2016. The meeting will be open to the public and will also be accessible via a live web cast.

According to the notice, the COAC meeting will include the following topics:

• Trade Modernization Subcommittee: Discuss the progress of the Centers of Excellence and Expertise Uniformity (“Centers”) Working Group. The subcommittee will provide an update on their review of the original COAC recommendations for Centers and what areas they have identified for Centers to develop uniform policies, process, and strategies, with consideration of an industry-focused and account-based approach.
• Exports Subcommittee Manifest Working Group: Upcoming Air Manifest Pilot and the Post Departure Filing Working Group.
• One U.S. Government Subcommittee: Progress on the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Single Window effort and will provide input on trade and partner government agencies (PGA) readiness.
• Trade Enforcement and Revenue Collection Subcommittee: Progress on the Intellectual Property Rights Working Group and the Antidumping/Countervailing Duty Working Group as well as plans for the Bond Working group.
• Global Supply Chain Subcommittee: Review and discuss recommendations related to the Pipeline Working Group and an update on pilot discussions with industry.
• Trusted Trader Subcommittee: Report on the Trusted Trader Pilot status, the next steps for implementation, and the vision of an enhanced Trusted Trader concept.

The COAC advises the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on the commercial operations of CBP and other related Department functions.

The Federal Register notice can be accessed online here