click for hi-res From right, Commissioner Alan Bersin, Assisant Commissioner for Trade Al Gina and Director of Trade Relations Maria Luisa O'Connell. listen as members of the trade community discuss recent CBP initatives.

Bersin characterized CBP’s overarching trade challenge as transforming “systems geared to a world that no longer exists,” he said to the private sector trade representatives. “We need your help in identifying the changes to be made.”

CBP’s account management program generated interest among many of the trade stakeholders. Cisco Senior Manager of International Trade and Energy Policy Jennifer Sanford, one of the participants from the U.S. Council for International Business, praised CBP’s Account Executive pilot program and suggested scaling the program to meet nationwide needs. Representatives from the National Retail Federation added their support for CBP’s account management initiatives, underscoring the need for a more holistic approach to cargo clearance.

Strengthening and increasing membership in CBP’s trusted trade program, the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism, was high on the to-do list for many of the trade stakeholders as one key to a more efficient border. Members of the new U.S.-Canadian business organization, Businesses for a Better Border—known as B3—praised the program. They noted that working together to address the remaining “inconsistencies” would “improve competitiveness,” said Mark A. Nantais, president of the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers’ Association.

	click for hi-res Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters Vice President Mathew Wilson, speaking at right, explains some of the priority issues on U.S.-Canadian trade at one of the roundtable meetings with trade stakeholders hosted by CBP Commissioner Alan Bersin, at far left, on March 15.

Despite C-TPAT’s successes in expediting clearance, many of the trade representatives discussed difficulties that remain when dealing with other U.S. agencies at the ports of entry. To figure out how to align all of the information needs of all federal partners, Bersin proposed establishing a private sector committee to advise the Border Interagency Executive Council.

The stakeholders voiced support for full funding of CBP’s new Automated Commercial Environment system now in development. Bersin emphasized that “CBP is very serious about ACE,” the electronic system being created to serve as a single portal for trade activity. “We need technology to move the traffic.” Representatives from the National Association of Foreign Trade Zones asked that processes specific to foreign trade zones need to be included in the ACE design. Bersin agreed, and added that the special requirements of foreign trade zones may need special automated tools. He proposed a CBP-industry working group to address those particular needs.

— Susan Holliday
CBP Public Affairs