NCBFAA Gives Guidance on New Information Requirements for Chinese Customs
The National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America "is not aware of any law prohibiting the disclosure" of Employer Identification Numbers that might prevent compliance with new Chinese customs data requirements, the NCBFAA said in an email. China's General Administration of Customs is requiring the shipper code and contact identifier for all master and house airway bills as of June 1 (see 1805140017). The GAC requires an EIN or Central Index Key (CIK) (or the comparable government identification for shippers or forwarders in other countries) of U.S.-based shippers and forwarders, meaning the EINs will be disclosed to both the carrier and GAC, the NCBFAA said. "The NCBFAA understands that many parties are concerned regarding potential liability for disclosing EINs to [GAC] and third parties. The association believes that EINs are not, however, protected in the same manner as Social Security Numbers ('SSNs'), and are instead considered to be public information," it said.
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Carriers may also ask for other information, and the NCBFAA "simply suggests that you do so," it said. "There is a lot of confusion surrounding these new regulations, and the path of least resistance may help facilitate transactions until the industry comes to an agreement on how to address the new rules." The new requirements have raised some U.S. industry concerns (see 1805230022).