# 2026-22501: Customs Tests Another Portal, This Time for Trade Representatives 2026-22501, Announcement of the Client Representative Technical Assistance Portal (CRTAP) Test, is a Federal Register notice from Homeland Security Department, U.S. Customs and Border Protection published 2026-11-04, effective 2026-12-04; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-11-05). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22501 - As of: 2026-11-05 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Document number: 2026-22501 - Title: Announcement of the Client Representative Technical Assistance Portal (CRTAP) Test - Type: Notice - Agencies: Homeland Security Department; U.S. Customs and Border Protection - Citation: 91 FR 69566 - Published: 2026-11-04 - Effective: 2026-12-04 - Comments close: not stated - Significant: no - Touches household money: yes - Regulation identifier numbers: none - Last updated: 2026-11-05 ## In one line Customs Tests Another Portal, This Time for Trade Representatives ## Summary Starting December 4, 2026, U.S. Customs and Border Protection is testing a new online tool called the Client Representative Technical Assistance Portal (CRTAP) to make asking for help easier and more secure. Trade members can join this 45-day test to try out the portal instead of calling or emailing. This change aims to speed up support without extra costs, and you can sign up anytime before the test ends! ## Abstract This document announces that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will conduct a test regarding the Client Representative Technical Assistance Portal (CRTAP), a new case management system that is designed to provide a secure centralized location and standardized method for information capture, that may replace the submission of technical assistance requests by telephone or by email. This voluntary test will permit CBP to examine whether the CRTAP meets its intended use and function. This notice describes the test, invites trade members to participate, and sets forth participation criteria. ## Effects PRIA read - 45-Day Voluntary CRTAP Pilot Launch: benefit, low. CBP will run a voluntary test of the Client Representative Technical Assistance Portal (CRTAP) beginning December 4, 2026 for a 45-day period (through January 18, 2027, unless extended). CBP began accepting requests to participate on November 4, 2026 and will accept requests until the test conclude… - Participation Limited to Nine Trade Members: cost, low. The CRTAP test is limited to a maximum of nine (9) trade members and participation is limited to brokers, self-filers, software providers, Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) Operators, Automated Export System (AES) users, and Automated Manifest Systems (AMS) users. Interested parties should apply by email wi… - Opportunity to Test and Improve Communication: benefit, low. Test participants may be able to submit technical assistance requests through CRTAP and provide feedback; participation may allow them to better track and reference communications with their CBP Client Representative and know when a customs issue has been resolved. - Participant Confidentiality and FOIA Disclosure: cost, low. Data entered into CRTAP may include confidential commercial or financial information protected by statutes, but participation in the test is not confidential; CBP will disclose the name(s) of approved participant(s) if required by a written Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. - Participant Obligations: Evaluation and Non-Sharing: cost, low. Selected test participants are required to participate in an evaluation of the test and must acknowledge that they will not share CRTAP access information; CBP will select participants based on their ability to provide feedback and to ensure broad representation of the trade community. ## Related documents - [2026-21600](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-21600): Indefinite Suspension of the De Minimis Exemption for Mail Shipments and New Postal Informal Entry Process; Delayed Compliance Extension, 2026-10-22 - [2026-20884](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20884): Advance Traveler Information for Rail, 2026-10-13 - [2026-20650](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20650): Low-Value Shipments, 2026-10-08 - [2026-17390](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-17390): Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Electronic Export Manifest for Rail Cargo, 2026-08-26 - [2026-12670](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-12670): Indefinite Suspension of the De Minimis Exemption for Merchandise Arriving Through All Modes Other Than the International Postal Network, 2026-06-24 - [2026-12669](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-12669): Indefinite Suspension of the De Minimis Exemption for Mail Shipments and New Postal Informal Entry Process, 2026-06-24 ## Sources - [2026-22501 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/11/04/2026-22501/announcement-of-the-client-representative-technical-assistance-portal-crtap-test) - [2026-22501 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-11-04/pdf/2026-22501.pdf) ## Related - [Previous: 2026-22500, Agency Information Collection Activities; Surface Management Activities Under t…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22500) - [Next: 2026-22502, Formations of, Acquisitions by, and Mergers of Bank Holding Companies](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22502) - [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22501 (as of 2026-11-05).