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Chair
Jerry Cook
Vice President, International Trade
HanesBrands, Inc
Staff Contacts
Nasim Deylami
Manager, Customs & Trade Facilitation
202-371-9235 or ndeylami@uscib.org
Erin Breitenbucher
Program Coordinator and Office Manager, Washington
(202) 682-7465 or ebreitenbucher@uscib.org
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Customs and Trade Facilitation
Who We Are
USCIB believes that global convergence and modernization of customs practices are necessary for efficient supply chains. The USCIB Customs and Trade Facilitation Committee, consisting of leading multi-national corporations, professional service firms and national industry associations, works to promote the , reduction of trade barriers and transaction costs arising from customs and border control practices, and the uniform application of the harmonized system and valuation agreement. In addition, we advocate for the harmonization of global customs and border procedures, and support the balancing of security and trade
Our US and Global Footprint: The USCIB Customs and Trade Facilitation Committee is based in Washington, DC, and works closely with USCIB headquarters in New York City. In the U.S., we work closely with the Executive branch of the U.S. government, with a focus on the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection, Department of Treasury, the U.S. Trade Representative’s office, and the U.S. Department of Commerce. We also advocate our members’ positions on the Hill, where USCIB is known as an independent and pro-trade voice for U.S. business on international issues. Our affiliation with the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) opens the door to our relationship with multilateral organizations such as the World Customs Organization (WCO) and World Trade Organization (WTO). The USCIB Customs and Trade Facilitation Committee also has relationships with government representatives in many of the countries in which our members do business.
How We Operate
Member-Driven: USCIB is a member-driven organization that ensures a platform for each member’s voice. Through the Customs and Trade Facilitation Committee, information is disseminated and issues are debated to reach consensus positions that promote the balance of trade facilitation and security.
Key Policy Issues
C-TPAT and AEO Mutual Recognition: USCIB believes in the importance of meaningful benefits for C-TPAT members and have consistently advocated for necessity of benefits in all AEO programs. This is why we have consistently encouraged CBP to focus core benefits of C-TPAT on the pre-trade and post-trade events of the supply chain and develop substantial commercial benefits for Tier 2 and Tier 3 C-TPAT participants. We have also urged CBP to achieve full mutual recognition of security programs with our major trading partners; to establish a concrete definition of mutual recognition which allows for compliance with C-TPAT to result in compliance with other security programs; and, to ensure that benefits of mutual recognition are realized by business as well as customs authorities. We have advocated for this in the U.S., at the World Customs Organization and APEC.
Air Cargo Security: USCIB believes that CBP and TSA should work together to enhance existing protocols to identify potential risks earlier in the air cargo supply chain with the least amount of disruption to global business. This is why USCIB encourages CBP and TSA to jointly work with all actors within the supply chain, including importers, to support the implementation of a security regime that simultaneously accounts for operational realities faced by importers and air carriers while protecting national security.
De Minimis and Informal Entry: USCIB supports CBP’s continued efforts to exercise its authority to increase the current values for de minimis and informal entry shipments. This is why we supported CBP’s November 2011 proposal to increase the informal entry limit and continue to advocate for the inclusion of a higher de minimis in the Customs Reauthorization Bill. USCIB also supports the APEC commitment to establish a baseline de minimis threshold and the push for a baseline de minimis with the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement.
IPR Enforcement: USCIB believes that counterfeit goods threaten U.S. competitiveness, jobs, public health, national security, and safety. This is whywe support CBP’s role in protecting intellectual property rights at our borders by intercepting counterfeit goods and are advocating for the inclusion of a provision in the Customs Reauthorization Bill that will grant CBP power to share identifying product information with right holders. We will continue to engage with CBP on the hope of re-creating a strong partnership with the government to identify, and where warranted, to seize illegal counterfeit goods.
Customs Modernization: USCIB believes in the importance of a modern, robust customs authority well equipped to facilitate trade. This is why USCIB advocates fora “21st century” customs reauthorization bill that balances trade facilitation and security. USCIB backs full funding for ACE in order to ensure full implementation of the trade enabling program that incorporates the robust inter-agency portals for a single window application, and supports the implementation of a simplified entry program that will reduce data duplication and expedite cargo release.
APEC: USCIB believes in the mission ofthe APEC Sub-Committee on Customs Procedures (SCCP) – simplification, harmonization and facilitation. To further this mission, USCIB engages with CBP to ensure strong private sector participation in the SCCP meetings. We have spearheaded the creation of the APEC Customs Business Virtual Working Group, with the goal of achieving mutual recognition of AEO programs among the APEC economies and ensuring strong supply chain connectivity throughout the region by working to address chokepoints.
Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP): USCIB supports high standard, commercially meaningful supply chain provisions within the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement. To achieve this, we engage with the U.S. Business Coalition for TPP to ensure that member views were expressed prior to each TPP negotiating round, and to provide a platform for members to provide input to USTR.
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