Four members of the Senate Finance Committee are seeking input from the trade community to help inform Congressional efforts to update US customs laws.
Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-La), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) sent out a letter yesterday asking for suggestions on how US customs laws should be updated and reformed, particularly when it comes to trade facilitation.
“There is a need to continue to modernize US customs laws to ensure the US remains a leader in global trade,” the senators said in the letter. “As Congress looks to update US customs laws and help advance the US Customs and Border Protection’s 21st Century Customs Framework, we welcome input on how to best promote effective trade facilitation.”
The senators asked for responses to the following questions:
Improving trade facilitation should help increase the flow of legal goods and services across borders while reducing red-tape and driving down costs. What current barriers and challenges does the trade community face as it relates to trade facilitation?
In detail, can you describe what improvements would be most effective? Also, it would helpful to outline any information or views you have relating to
iii. Facilitating data transmission by parties as it develops in the supply chain.
Key security programs not only enhance homeland and global security, they also provide commercial benefits for active partners. Are there ways you believe the following programs could be enhanced to improve trade facilitation and security? the Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism; and pre-clearance programs at foreign ports.
As Congress deliberates updates to US customs laws, how can we strike the appropriate balance between security/enforcement and trade facilitation? Please explain what economic benefits you would expect to see from suggested improvements for trade facilitation.
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