CBP Highlights Recent Trade Successes

Washington— U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) commitment to streamlining and modernizing trade practices to benefit trade partners around the world has resulted in many successful accomplishments in the past year. CBP plays a unique role in securing and facilitating international trade today and this responsibility is crucial to maintaining U.S. economic competitiveness.

“CBP is fully committed to facilitating and modernizing the trade process,” said David V. Aguilar, CBP acting commissioner. “We can and will be a force for increased economic competitiveness for our nation.”

CBP remains committed to working with the trade community in partnership to further the successes and opportunities of the trade process. CBP has, in conjunction with the trade industry, worked to devise and test programs and processes that streamline work in ways that will benefit security and regulatory functions while strengthening the economic vitality of our nation, businesses and workers.

Programs such as the Customs and Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) have grown from seven participating partners to more than 10,200 Certified Partners worldwide, showcasing how the greater efficiency that accompanies the increased predictability of moving goods can provide major cost savings for businesses. In addition to C-TPAT, ongoing efforts to protect America from the trade in counterfeit and pirated goods during fiscal year 2011 resulted in 24,792 seizures, a 24 percent increase over 2010.

CBP is continuing efforts to strengthen trade facilitation. For example, in the near future a notice of proposed rulemaking for the in-bond process will be published in the Federal Register. This rule proposes various changes to in-bond regulations enhancing CBP’s relationship with trade partners and building on its already successful trade processes. The public will have 60 days from publication to submit comments.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.