Tokyo - U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced today that it will host the Sub-committee on Customs Procedures as part of the 2011 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings that will be chaired by the United States. The Sub-committee on Customs Procedures coordinates CBP's efforts in customs, immigration and counter-terrorism with partner agencies throughout APEC member countries. The yearlong chairmanship will be handed over to CBP from the Japan Customs and Tariff Bureau today.
"CBP is proud to be hosting the distinguished members of the Sub-committee on Customs Procedures for the 2011 APEC meetings," said Commissioner Alan Bersin. "It is of vital importance to the security of our global economy for the members to coordinate and share customs best practices."
The subcommittee is a working level group within APEC. It brings Customs administrations of APEC Member Economies together to simplify and harmonize customs procedures and to ensure trade moves efficiently and safely across the Asia-Pacific region.
APEC is the premier forum for facilitating economic growth, cooperation, trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region. The APEC region is home to more than 2.7 billion people and represents approximately 60 percent of the world GDP and 44 percent of world trade.
Japan officially turns over the Chair of APEC to President Barack Obama at the November 13-14, 2010 Leader's Meeting in Yokohama, Japan.