Over 500 AAEI members attended the event – many of whom work very closely with CBP on a wide range of CBP security and trade issues. The Commissioner reflected on how two years ago, he addressed this same meeting as his very first trade speech as CBP’s Commissioner.

During his remarks, Commissioner Basham acknowledged his understanding that many in the trade community have become frustrated by CBP’s relentless focus on security programs. Yet, he said that “in a post-9/11 world there was--and is—really no other choice for CBP than to keep security uppermost in our mind given the nature of the threat we face.” He reminded them that “in today’s world an inadequately secured supply chain can have far worse consequences for the movement of global commerce than the multiple layers we have put in place.” However, he added that “we have not turned our back on trade, nor that the purpose of the very supply chains we strive to secure, is to expedite global commerce.”

The Commissioner went on to remind the group of the creation of the Office of International Trade, under the leadership of Assistant Commissioner Dan Baldwin, as evidence of CBP’s ongoing commitment to trade compliance and facilitation issues. He also raised CBP’s desire to work with the trade in partnership on the development and implementation of the new CBP Trade Strategy.