Commissioner Says CBP "Geared to World that No Longer Exists," Asks for Trade's Help

On March 16, 2011, CBP Commissioner Bersin and other CBP leaders held a series of roundtable discussions with private sector trade representatives on the topics of account management, Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT), the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE), FTZs, etc.

Trade Asked to Identify Changes CBP Needs to Make

According to a CBP press release, the Commissioner characterized CBP’s overarching trade challenge as transforming “systems geared to a world that no longer exists,” and he asked the trade representatives for help in identifying changes that CBP needs to make.

Suggestions from Trade Focus on Benefits of Scaling Account Executive Pilot

CBP’s account management program generated interest among many of the trade stakeholders. One of the trade participants praised CBP’s Account Executive (AE) pilot electronics program and suggested scaling the program to meet nationwide needs. Representatives from the National Retail Federation added their support for CBP’s account management initiatives, underscoring the need for a more holistic approach to cargo clearance.

(On November 1, 2010, CBP launched two pilots to further strengthen its relationships with its trade and business partners -- the AE and Center of Excellence and Expertise (CEE) pilots. CBP’s AE pilot is testing CBP’s ability to engage trusted partners in the electronics industry to facilitate trade while ensuring continued compliance with all import requirements.

See ITT’s Online Archives or 10/26/10 news, 10102613, for BP summary of CBP’s announcement of these pilots.)

Trade also Advocates Addressing C-TPAT’s Inconsistencies

According to CBP, strengthening and increasing membership in the C-TPAT was high on the to-do list for many of the trade stakeholders as one key to a more efficient border.

Members of the new U.S.-Canadian business organization, Businesses for a Better Border—known as B3—praised C-TPAT and noted that working together to address the remaining “inconsistencies” would “improve competitiveness.”

(See ITT’s Online Archives or 12/14/10 news, 10121423, for BP summary of CBP Commissioner’s remarks on increasing C-TPAT membership and improving intelligence.

See ITT’s Online Archives or 02/25/11 news, 11022521, for BP summary of highlights of CBP’s FY 2010 progress with C-TPAT, ACE, etc.)

Bersin Proposes Committee to Improve Dealing with OGAs at Ports

Despite C-TPAT’s successes in expediting clearance, many of the trade representatives discussed the difficulties that remain when dealing with other U.S. government agencies (OGAs) at the ports of entry. To figure out how to align all of the information needs of all federal partners, Commissioner Bersin proposed establishing a private sector committee to advise the Border Interagency Executive Council.

Trade Voices Strong Support for Full ACE Funding

At the roundtables, stakeholders voiced support for full funding of ACE and the Commissioner emphasized CBP’s seriousness about ACE.

(See ITT’s Online Archives or 02/16/11 news, 11021629, for BP summary of CBP’s FY 2012 budget request that would cut total ACE funding in half, but would invest in cargo release.)

Bersin Proposes CBP-Trade Group to Address FTZ Processes in ACE

Representatives from the National Association of Foreign Trade Zones asked that processes specific to foreign trade zones (FTZs) be included in the ACE design. Commissioner Bersin agreed, and added that the special requirements of FTZs may need special automated tools. He proposed a CBP-industry working group to address those particular needs.

(See ITT’s Online Archives or 09/15/10 news, 10091549, for BP summary announcing the availability of an updated FTZ operators ACE overview fact sheet.)

(See ITT’s Online Archives or 11/10/10 news, 10111043, for BP summary of CBP’s November 8, 2010 roundtable discussions with trade.)