We all have heard about the Canadian government’s “Beyond the Border” initiatives. The following reflections are focused on developments “Beyond Our Borders”. Many of you have heard me say that, although governments decide what is required to keep citizens safe, and set targets for economic growth and trade policy, these decisions are made less and less in isolation or unilaterally. And just as government decision-makers and Customs administrations are looking to trading partners and global organizations as they develop and implement policy, so are customs brokers benefitting from a global perspective and partners around the world.

The IFCBA (International Federation of Customs Brokers Associations) is entering its twenty-fifth anniversary year as the only global organization representing customs brokers. The CSCB has been privileged to act as the Secretariat for the IFCBA for most of that quarter century, with a unique vantage point to observe and influence the many changes affecting customs brokers and their clients worldwide. 

The most recent IFCBA World Conference has just finished in Seoul, Korea, and was a huge success.  Sixteen countries were represented at the conference with 300 delegates actively engaged in both an informative business program and wonderful social and networking events. The combination of sessions planned and presented by IFCBA, with those planned and presented by KCBA (Korea Customs Brokers Association) was a winning formula. Two of the many highlights of the conference for me included a presentation on Korea Customs Uni-Pass e-Customs clearance system, which offers single window functionality and measures benefits related to time saving, cost saving, integrity and customer satisfaction, and a presentation by Siemens Ltd., India, on tracking customs broker performance using Key Performance Indicators.

The Global Face of Customs Brokers – delegates from Asia, Africa, Europe, South America and North America

Prior to the conference, the IFCBA Board of Directors met in a day-long session to discuss a number of issues of interest and concern to the customs broker community worldwide. Shantanu Bhadkamkar from India was elected Chair of the IFCBA for a two-year term, supported by a team of excellent Managing Directors including the CSCB’s Candace Sider, Han Hwi-Sun from Korea, Vito Totorizzo from Italy, Pedro Bequengue from Angola, Victor Gamas from Mexico and Darrell Sekin from the United States. I will continue as IFCBA Secretary.

When the Korea Customs Brokers Association invited the IFCBA to hold its 2014 conference in Seoul, the KCBA President said:

As you all know, the Korean War in 1950 completely destroyed the Korean economy. Since Korea had scarce natural resources, the only viable policy to develop the economy was exporting goods processed from imported raw materials. And this economic policy turned out successful. Back in 1977, Korean exports recorded 10 Billion US dollars for the first time and per capita GDP was 1,000 US dollars. Last year in 2011, however, export was 550 Billion US dollars and per capita GDP increased to 22,500 US dollars. Korea relied on donor countries for survival after the Second World War. But today, Korea became an exemplar country extending a helping hand to other countries.

Two years later, all of us who attended the conference in Seoul experienced firsthand the resilience, competence and warmth of the Korean people. In recognition of the generous hospitality of our Korean friends in hosting the IFCBA 2014 World Conference, and in lieu of gifts to the speakers who gave so generously of their time and expertise to make the conference such a success, the IFCBA has made a charitable donation to the Korean Red Cross, Ferry Disaster Assistance Fund, with sadness and sympathy for the recent tragic event in that country.

Closer to home, the North American Customs Brokers Alliance (NACBA) has been revived to strengthen and support the advocacy work done on behalf of customs brokers in North America, and promote the value of our associations and members. You wouldn’t guess it to look at us - representatives of a dynamic, innovative, highly automated industry - but the combined age of the customs brokers associations in Canada, Mexico and the United States is more than three hundred years old. The first association of customs brokers in Mexico was founded in the Port of Progreso, Yucatán in 1912, and twenty-six years later, representatives of nine local associations of customs brokers gathered in Mexico City to found CAAAREM. The first organization of customs brokers in the United States – the Customs Clerks Association of the Port of New York – was formed in 1897, replaced by a national association sixty-five years ago. In Canada, the initiative of a group of customs brokers in Montreal resulted in the formation of the Dominion Chartered Customs House Brokers Association in 1920. 

Today, CAAAREM  (Confederación de Asociaciones de Agentes Aduanales de la República Mexicana), the NCBFAA (National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America) and the CSCB (Canadian Society of Customs Brokers) are thriving as authoritative and respected organizations in the trade and transportation industry, dedicated to meeting the information, education and professional development needs of customs brokers; to developing enhanced industry performance standards; to playing a broadly based and effective public policy role and to maintaining a strong government relations program. 

Working collaboratively during the past several months, the three associations have agreed on a paper articulating “The Value of Customs Brokers” and have identified a number of priorities which we have brought to the attention of the heads of the Customs administrations in our respective countries. During this 20^th anniversary year of NAFTA, the customs brokers associations of North America believe the time is right to identify and take action on Customs and border initiatives which will contribute to greater trade facilitation and economic prosperity in the region. As business organizations representing our customs broker members, we are also deeply connected to and knowledgeable about hundreds of thousands of importers and exporters in our countries. Because we have established a strong, constructive and collaborative working relationship with each other, as well as with our respective Customs administrations we are uniquely placed to make meaningful and innovative change, together.

Other messages from the CSCB President:

• It May Not be a Blog, But... Introducing a Series of Messages from CSCB President Carol West