Trade Enforcement and Facilitation No Longer Seen as Opposites, Says CBP's Boyce

The shift to ACE and automation marks a large cultural shift within the government and represents a move toward a 21st century supply chain, said Maria Luisa Boyce, CBP’s senior advisor for trade engagement, during a U.S. Chamber of Commerce conference on supply chains. The agency needs to keep nimble even as it deals with challenges of infrastructure and existing processes, she said. The agency's focus is continues to evolve, most recently with the customs reauthorization law, she said.

The new law "has a very heavy approach on enforcement" that is meant to show more consideration of domestic industry, she said. But, "where we are today is much different" than five years ago in that trade facilitation and enforcement aren't seen as opposite ends of the spectrum anymore, Boyce said. CBP can now have an even more "efficient trade enforcement because we have a very good facilitation understanding," she said. Boyce also singled out customs brokers as being among the most important players within the supply chain from CBP's perspective.

Importers of products solely overseen by CBP are unlikely to see much a problem from the switch to ACE, said Ben Bidwell, director, U.S. Corporate Customs, C.H. Robinson. "From an impact perspective, our customers that don't import products subject to other government agencies, I think for the most part, the impact that they will see is minimal," he said. The "bulk of the conversation with clients" about ACE involve the other agencies and what additional data elements that may be needed, he said. Those questions about PGA requirements mean brokerages must train employees to "speak intelligently" about the data elements and what's required of importers, he said.

Trade expansion is hugely important for continued economic growth, said Nate Herman, senior vice president, International Trade, American Apparel & Footwear Association. The apparel, footwear and textile industries make up only five percent of imports by value in the U.S, but account for some 50 percent of all duties paid, said Herman. Those industries therefore represent the "pay for" in terms of future trade agreements, he said. "And we want to be the pay for," as trade pacts have resulted in a reduction to the amount U.S. consumers now spend on shoes and clothing, in addition to the business benefits, he said.