The European Union issued the following trade-related releases on April 14, 2011:
On February 23, 2011, 11 trade organizations, including AAEI, NCBFAA, NRF and the Chamber of Commerce1 sent a letter to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D) and Senator Orrin Hatch (R), in support of the confirmation of Alan Bersin as CBP Commissioner. If Bersin is not confirmed before the end of 2011, his term of office will expire.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a final rule, effective January 14, 2011, which amends 19 CFR by making technical corrections to certain protest provisions within Part 174 and certain related provisions in Parts 145, 159 and 173.
On November 8, 2010, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Alan Bersin met with private sector trade and travel stakeholders to discuss concerns and recommendations for improving CBP services during a series of roundtable meetings at the agency’s headquarters.
The World Customs Organization reports that in WCO Secretary General Mikuriya's keynote address at the 41st annual meeting of ASAPRA (Association of Professional Customs Agents in America), he promoted the importance of Customs brokers joining forces with Customs administrations in advancing Customs modernization and in remaining visionary, relevant and indispensable to global trade. ASAPRA President Alejandro Ramos urged Customs brokers in Latin America to embrace trade facilitation enshrined in the WCO Revised Kyoto Convention and the new AEO and Single Window initiatives promoted by the WCO SAFE Framework of Standards which are in line with reform initiatives undertaken by regional Customs administrations.
The World Customs Organization's Inspector General Mikuriya met with Vietnam’s Director General of Customs and its Finance Minister on July 29-30 in Hanoi. The Minister of Finance expressed his strong support for Customs modernization and the partnership approach with business. The Minister also pledged his commitment to improving Vietnam’s investment climate by working with business and enhancing coordination with other border agencies, including the single window project. The Minister requested assistance from the WCO in basing the country’s Customs reform program on global standards and best practices. Vietnam Customs informed Secretary General Mikuriya that they were trying to establish a trade compliance program as a first step towards an AEO program. In this regard, they welcomed the engagement and advice of the WCO Private Sector Consultative Group in establishing the program.
On July 23, 2010, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Alan Bersin sent a letter to 16 trade and industry groups1 responding to a list of proposals that were presented to him to improve Customs regulations and operations.
On July 23, 2010, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Alan Bersin sent a letter to 16 trade and industry groups1 responding to a list of proposals that were presented to him to improve Customs regulations and operations.
On July 23, 2010, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Alan Bersin sent a letter to 16 trade and industry groups1 responding to a list of proposals that were presented to him to improve Customs regulations and operations.
The World Customs Organization visited Bangladesh on July 20 and 21, 2010 for the Customs-Business Partnership Conference, where he met the management team of Bangladesh Customs as well as senior political and business leaders to discuss Customs modernization and the Customs-business partnership. At the conference, the Minister of Finance announced that Bangladesh would sign a letter of intent to implement the WCO SAFE Framework of Standards and would work with the WCO on Customs reform. He also announced that his country would start the process of acceding to the WCO Revised Kyoto Convention.