Basham renews CBP commitment to trade partnership

June 14, 2006

14 June 2006

Basham renews CBP commitment to trade partnership

The following article is extracted from the 14 June 2006 edition of “American Shipper”.

In his first public speech as the new commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Ralph Basham pledged that he would maintain the agency's policy of balancing border security and trade facilitation as well as continue partnering with the import-export industry to self-police corporate supply chains and make customs processes more efficient.

Basham, who was sworn in last week after previously serving as director of the Secret Service, said Tuesday he would work hard to quickly learn about commercial trade issues regulated by the agency but already understood a critical part of his job is "ensure the uninterrupted flow of the legitimate trade and travel.

"I fully support the concept of the twin goals of security and facilitation, and I believe we must, and can achieve both. I intend to continue to build on CBP's strategy and expand our ability to provide rapid processing and entry for these legitimate shipments so we can focus our inspection resources on the potentially higher-risk cargo. I believe partnership with the trade community is the key element to achieving those twin goals."

Basham reassured an audience of 500 trade professionals at the American Association of Exporters and Importers conference in New York that his law enforcement background would help him balance the economic and national security and not lead to an automatic crackdown on international cargo shipments in effort to protect the nation….

He praised his predecessor, Robert Bonner, as a "visionary leader" who "laid a solid foundation for CBP" and said he respected the Container Security Initiative, Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism, the advance manifest rules and other programs he initiated.

"At this point, I see no need for dramatic change," Basham said.

The commissioner said he wanted an open dialogue with the trade community and asked for its help and advice as he grows into the job.


Topic(s): 
World Economy & Politics
Information Source: 
Canadian News Channel / International News Channel
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