Government Seeking COAC, Industry Input on Regulations Deserving Elimination

Regulatory reform efforts are underway as officials from CBP and the departments of the Treasury and Homeland Security (DHS) asked for industry help in identifying regulations that should be eliminated, during the March 1 Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee (COAC) meeting. The request follows the new administration's efforts to reduce the number of regulations in effect (see 1702070048). "We're looking for regs that can be eliminated," said Timothy Skud, deputy assistant treasury secretary for tax, trade and tariff policy. "We're very interested" in suggestions from the COAC or from individuals on regulations that could be fully or partially ended, he said.

CBP is also eager to review regulations seen as candidates for elimination, said Brenda Smith, executive assistant commissioner with the Office of International Trade. "We are very excited about your ideas for identifying regulations where the costs are greater than the value as well those regulatory projects that should be prioritized because their value is more than their cost," she said. "I'm hoping you have a list in your pocket already and the challenge is just to gather them all up." The next COAC meeting is scheduled for May 3 in Washington, she said.

There's "every sign" from DHS and the While House that the "pace and momentum" on trade will continue, said Christa Brzozowski, DHS deputy assistant secretary for trade policy. "We see a particular emphasis on the need for promoting and encouraging economic growth," which includes compliance enforcement while keeping "the vital stream of cross-border trade moving." Brzozowski also named the regulatory reforms as a top focus for the Trump administration.

Along with border security and counterterrorism, trade enforcement and facilitation will be "major priorities for this president and his team," CBP Acting Commissioner Kevin McAleenan said. CBP has briefed DHS Secretary John Kelly on trade issues and there's been "productive initial engagement with the White House team," including White House National Trade Council Director Peter Navarro (see 1612210054), McAleenan said.

International engagement is also ramping up quickly, CBP Office of International Affairs Assistant Commissioner Mark Koumans said. Kelly will travel to Canada "very soon," which "presents another opportunity for the NAFTA discussion," Koumans said. Koumans said a meeting last week between customs officials from the U.S., Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and New Zealand touched on supply chain security and Air Cargo Advance Screening.