As we look to 2009, we see a number of changes that will impact brokers and forwarders. The change in administration and the subsequent appointments at the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection and the Federal Maritime Commission will influence our industry as focus and priorities may shift.
The one thing that will not change is the continued concern over cargo security.
The biggest change we will see will be in the implementation of the Importer Security Filing. This rule, known as the 10+2 rule, will change not only document and information flow but also how trade is handled from origin. Filers of this information will need to have programming in place and coordinate this information timely and accurately. Filers also will need to be more involved in the importers’ supply chain to provide this service. We will need to work with Customs and the import community to make this happen. Customs continues to develop ACE, the agency’s new computer system.
We will also need to work with the Transportation Security Administration and the airlines to accomplish more air cargo screening in 2009. This will need to be done with cooperation and economics in mind.
Import food safety as well as the Consumer Product Safety Act and the Lacey Act will also be issues of concern for the new administration and Congress.
Continued success of the Port of New York and New Jersey is tied to capital improvements both planned and in progress. The air draft under the Bayonne Bridge needs to be addressed as larger vessels will hopefully call at the port but cannot now. We look forward to these challenges, for it is definitely an exciting time to be involved with international trade.