Commissioner Basham welcomed more than 600 members of the trade community to the conference which was held at the J.W. Marriott in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 29 – 31.

During the conference, the Office of International Trade released a new CBP Trade Strategy to guide the agency’s trade facilitation and security related work during the next five years.

“The Trade Strategy complements our national strategies for gaining operational control of the borders at and between the ports of entry. It will guide our efforts toward a system that is swift, safe and secure for legitimate imports entering the U.S. marketplace,” Commissioner Basham said.

CBP also announced that in cooperation with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) it is expanding the CBP Importer Self-Assessment Program to include a product safety component. This pilot program is a partnership between CBP, CPSC and importers to voluntarily maintain a high level of product safety compliance.

The general sessions emphasized CBP’s work with the trade community to secure global trade in the post 9-11 environment.

“September 11 certainly intensified our relationships and partnerships. We moved the agency forward and improved our processes,” said Deputy Assistant Commissioner Jayson P. Ahern. “We’ve pushed ahead, not only with maritime security, but with initiatives like the Secure Border Initiative to protect our northern and southern borders, the Secure Freight Initiative and 10-print and with trusted traveler programs like FAST, SENTRI, NEXUS and WHTI.”

This year’s conference participants had the opportunity to hear from CBP program managers as well as our private sector partners in breakout sessions focused on Importer Self-Assessment, Intellectual Property Rights, Importer Security Filing, the new CBP Trade Strategy, the President’s Import Safety Working Group, TSA’s 100 percent Air Cargo Screening and Certified Cargo Screening Program (CCSP), Prevention of Agriculture Related Remedial Actions, C-TPAT Security Best Practices and Lessons Learned and Upcoming ACE changes.

Deputy Commissioner Ahern said that CBP has also continued to improve its partnership with the trade and other government agencies.

“You have walked this journey with us step-by-step advising, counseling and partnering with us on all the many systems that are now in place to secure our nation’s border and protect American business,” said Deputy Assistant Commissioner Jayson P. Ahern.

“We’ve matured and grown in our 5 years together. And, this transition period will be no exception. The American people are counting on us to be that last line of defense – and we will not let them down. And our new leaders will need our help – and we will not let them down either.”

CBP Releases New Trade Strategy (FY 2009 – 2013) Strategic Vision – A multilayered risk management approach to ensure legitimate trade is facilitated across U.S. borders. Goals of the Strategy: Goal One – Facilitate Legitimate Trade and Ensure Compliance Goal Two – Enforce Trade Laws and Collect Accurate Revenue Goal Three – Advance National and Economic Security Goal Four – Intensify Modernization of CBP’s Trade Processes