CUSTOMS? TECHNOLOGY CHIEF AFFIRMS SUPPORT FOR ITDS DEVELOPMENT

CUSTOMSÆ TECHNOLOGY CHIEF AFFIRMS SUPPORT FOR ITDS DEVELOPMENT    U.S. Customs said it continues to make headway on the development of the International Trade Data System.
   The concept behind the system is to provide a single automated link for the industry to communicate trade data to the government. As many as 100 federal agencies have some need for this type of data.
   During the past several years, ITDS development has been plagued by industry mistrust and political wrangling. Customs assumed the development role of ITDS earlier this year.
   “ITDS will be very important as we move forward,” said S.W. “Woody” Hall Jr., assistant commissioner of information technology at Customs. “We see it evolving into a front-end for what we’re developing in ACE (Automated Commercial Environment).”
   Customs’ ITDS development staff is located at the agency’s Office of Information Technology. Meetings have been held with other agencies and industry officials to ensure the system operates in line with their processes.
   “I’m seeing a lot of buy-in and accountability from the agencies for how it should work,” Hall said.
   An ITDS pilot test had been scheduled for October in Buffalo, N.Y. But it’s expected to be postponed until early next year.