New CBP Center for Excellence and Expertise Opens in Detroit

CBP opened the Automotive and Aerospace Center of Excellence and Expertise (CEE) in Detroit Sept. 4, it said in a Sept. 6 press release.. The center has started centralized processing for all trusted partners in the automotive and aerospace industry, it said.

(CBP recently said three CEEs, Pharmaceuticals, Health and Chemicals; Electronics; and Automotive and Aerospace, will handle a number of processing functions as of Sept. 27. The agency said the Petroleum, Natural Gas and Minerals CEE will transition to handling the same functions as of Oct. 1. Five more CEEs are scheduled to be completed by the end of FY 2013, though their locations haven't been finalized. The other CEEs will focus on Agriculture and Prepared Products, Base Metals and Machinery, Consumer Products, Industrial and Manufacturing Materials, and Textiles, Wearing Apparel and Footwear. )

"The Center of Excellence and Expertise is an innovative approach to managing trade by both industry and accounts," said Kevin McAleenan, CBP assistant commissioner for in the Office of Field Operations. "Leveraging the right mix of CBP skill sets in the center brings together an environment that promotes industry expertise and collaboration." Allen Gina, assistant commissioner in the Office of International Trade also said the cooperation between government and the trade will improve U.S. competitiveness.

Will Deal with Trusted Shipper, C-TPAT and ISA

Center personnel answer questions, provide information and develop trade facilitation strategies to address uniformity and compliance concerns. They will also serve as a single point of processing for businesses enrolled in CBP’s trusted shipper programs: the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) and Importer Self-Assessment (ISA).

The Automotive and Aerospace Center joins the Pharmaceutical Center and Electronic Center already operating in New York and Los Angeles, respectively. CBP expects to open the Petroleum, Natural Gas and Minerals Center in Houston, before the end of this month, it said.

(See ITT's Online Archives 12090421 detailing the functions and timelines of the CEEs.