CBP's Winkowski Confident Simplified Entry Disagreement Can be Resolved, Lauds CEEs

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. -- The U.S. Customs and Border Protection Centers of Excellence and Expertise are game changers in the trade world and are deserving of additional funding from Congress, said Thomas Winkowski, acting deputy commissioner at CBP, speaking at the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America conference April 25. Winkowski was a last minute replacement for Acting Commissioner David Aguilar, who was scheduled to speak at the conference but was summoned to the White House, said Winkowski.

The CEEs have transformed how the U.S. manages the trade mission, Winkowski said. It is important to continue to get the trade community to look at CEEs, which have had good success to date. Industry can expect some major announcements on the CEEs and other programs at the coming trade symposium on May 10, 2012 he said.

Simplified entry is critical to the way CBP plans to head in managing trade, said Winkowski. The more data available in advance that can be pushed to the right buckets, the better off everyone will be, he said. Winkowski said he was confident that industry and CBP can work through differences of opinion regarding the program. CBP is doing its best to make sure everything is being done to reduce transaction costs, he said. In order to remain competitive, there needs to be a lowering of transaction costs and improvement in ways to process cargo, he said.