Customs Service

Comments on the Customs Modernization and Informed Compliance Act Gao ID: T-GGD-92-22 March 10, 1992

GAO provided its views on the Customs Modernization and Informed Compliance Act, which would modernize U.S. Customs Service procedures by removing outdated laws requiring paper documentation and allowing for full electronic processing of all Customs transactions. In particular, Section 201 of the bill would give Customs the legal basis to fully implement the automated systems for processing imported goods electronically that it has been developing during the past several years. These systems are crucial if Customs is to meet its trade enforcement responsibilities. GAO believes that Section 201 sets useful goals for Customs operations, authorizes Customs to institute much needed automated systems, and provides a useful framework for exercising congressional oversight. This oversight is needed to ensure that Customs overcomes problems that could hinder achieving the goals of the National Customs Automation Program. These problems include questionable effectiveness of Customs trade enforcement as well as management practices involving planning, performance monitoring, and information requests.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

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