CBP Trade Position Consolidation Bill Passes House

The House of Representatives voted 403-9 to create a position of global trade specialist, consolidating several existing positions, including import specialist and drawback specialist.

Rep. Michelle Steel, R-Calif., one of the co-sponsors of the bill, said ahead of the initial voice vote that "CBP should also have the proper authority to modernize their staffing as the trade environment evolves. Currently, CBP's Office of International Trade has several distinct but separate trade positions. This includes jobs such as import specialists, international trade analysts, management and program analysts, trade economists, auditors, attorneys, and so forth. These jobs do help CBP execute and enforce U.S. trade laws and ultimately protect our American economy, but there is a position missing, and that is a global trade specialist.

"CBP has created such a position, but it doesn't have the flexibility, nor does it have the legal authority to hire for this position. Our legislation would give CBP that needed authority and so much more. The global trade specialist position would allow CBP to realign and reshape the workforce in response to the evolving trade environment.

"It would give CBP more flexibility to modernize its trade workforce, to retain its employees, and to build its institutional knowledge. It would equip trade employees to more effectively execute trade enforcement and compliance operations. It would increase professional development opportunities," she said.

The positions of import specialist, entry specialist, national account manager, international trade specialist, drawback specialist and national import specialist will be consolidated under the title of global trade specialist.

The House voted Jan. 17 to approve the bill.