see also: in 2011:   Aguilar Assumes CBP Leadership; Bersin to Take New DHS Position   CBP Deputy Commissioner Addresses Security, Streamlining at Aviation Conference   Commissioner Bersin Hosts Trade Advisory Committee Meeting in D.C.   Beyond the Border Action Plan Released   Commissioner Gives Trade Groups Top Priority   GAO Names CBP's Use of Radio Frequency ID as Federal 'Best Practice' in IT   CBP’s Minneapolis Hiring Center Saluted for Veterans Support ...more on cbp.gov:   Video: Commissioner Tells Trade Symposium 'We Cannot Be Strong without Being Economically Strong'   Trade Symposium 2011

CBP Trade Symposium 2011 Launches
Two-day Lineup Includes Key Business, Government Leaders

(04/19/2011)Before a sold-out audience of more than 700 attendees, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Trade Symposium 2011 in Washington, D.C., kicked off two days of in-depth meetings with a high-level panel discussion of the common interests of business and governments in promoting secure, efficient international trade.

	click for hi-res CBP Commissioner Alan D. Bersin welcomes attendees to the 2011 CBP Trade Symposium Wednesday morning in Washington. Photo Credit: James Tourtellotte

The panel, moderated by Carla Hills, former U.S. Trade Representative and current CEO of Hills and Co., focused on ways to get to what everyone acknowledged was the objective: the secure, expedited flow of lawful international commerce. ( Trade Symposium 2011 )

To harmonize the requirements of varying governments and their agencies to facilitate trade, Jayson Myers, president and CEO of Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, highlighted regulations. If regulations are simple and low cost, governments achieve “better compliance, more effective regulation and more effective security as a result,” said Myers.

Achieving harmonization must be done multilaterally, said Jean-Guy Carrier, secretary general of the International Chamber of Commerce, and requires a “coming together of political and economic forces,” which has proven to be very effective.

	click for hi-res Attendees at the Trade Symposium learn more about various CBP programs at information booths. Photo Credit: James Tourtellotte

“Trade and investment are the keys to peace and prosperity,” said Carrier.

Francisco Sanchez agreed. Sanchez, under secretary for international trade at the Department of Commerce, cited Vietnam to show that “exports have to play a critical role.” Fifteen years ago, 50 percent of Vietnam’s population lived in poverty. Since the opening of Vietnam’s markets, the poverty level in the country has fallen to 12 percent, said Sanchez.

CBP Commissioner Alan D. Bersin said he sees the role of CBP and the U.S. in economic competitiveness as “driving down transaction costs” and “cutting down the friction on moving goods through the supply chain that cross our borders.” ( Video: Commissioner Tells Trade Symposium 'We Cannot Be Strong without Being Economically Strong' )

At the opening of the symposium, the commissioner and Deputy Commissioner David Aguilar welcomed the attendees, who over the two days will be hearing from influential leaders including U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk.