The most important possible change in 2012 is one I hope does not occur.
Simply put, I am concerned a potential loss of the forward momentum of the Customs-trade community agenda relating to trade compliance and facilitation championed by Customs Commissioner Alan Bersin will stall or fall victim to inertia — to the detriment of industry, the economy and some promising and long-awaited improvements in Customs operations.
I’ve had the good fortune over the last 30-plus years to witness some remarkable leadership at U.S. Customs, and I fully believe the commissioner sets the cultural and operational tone for the agency and determines how the agency engages the trade community as a principal stakeholder.
As 2010 demonstrated, cross-border trade issues have been reinvigorated at the agency level. Previously dormant, slow-moving or seemingly unattainable projects or programs, such as full-fledged implementation of the Automated Commercial Environment, account-based processing, entry simplification, improvements to Importer Self Assessment, the International Trade Data System, and trade security enhancements now actually seem doable, provided the current momentum is not interrupted.
Although all Customs commissioners have their detractors, Commissioner Bersin, has, in my view, moved the agency forward in relative short order by adeptly balancing the regulatory and enforcement agenda with the recognition that engaging the international trade community is critical to many aspects of mission fulfillment. Although some might label this skill-set as “pro-trade” (anathema to some regulatory officials), others, myself included, see that label as uninformative – because participation of the trade community (at home and abroad) is critical to pragmatic improvements in cross-border operational efficiency.
This can translate to palpable economic benefits and greater U.S. competitiveness in the global arena. My hope is Commissioner Bersin, or his successor, will move the current agenda forward with all deliberate speed.