Trade Week

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U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is proud to announce its first Virtual Trade Week, September 8-11, 2020. Join CBP Executives and industry experts as they provide updates on CBP trade priorities and policies.

Virtual Trade Week Agenda

Tuesday, September 8th - 1:00pm – 3:00pm

Welcome and Introduction:

• Jon B. Perdue, Executive Director, Office of Trade Relations (OTR), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

Keynote Remarks:

• Mark A. Morgan, Acting Commissioner, CBP

United States-Mexico-Canada-Agreement (USMCA)
 

Moderator:

• Cynthia Whittenburg, Deputy Executive Assistant Commissioner, Office of Trade (OT), CBP

Speakers:

• Jorge Arturo Alvarez Tovar, Minister Representative, Ministry of Finance Customs and Tax Affairs, Embassy of Mexico 

•  Doug Band, Director General of Trade and Anti-dumping, Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)

• John P. Leonard, Executive Director, Trade Policy & Programs, OT, CBP

• Patrick J. Ottensmeyer, President and Chief Executive Officer, The Kansas City Southern Railway Company

• Mark Stepien, Center Director, Automotive and Aerospace Center, Office of Field Operations (OFO), CBP

Description:

The USMCA, the replacement to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), entered into force on July 1, 2020.  CBP has brought a panel of government and private sector representatives together to discuss USMCA implementation, enforcement, compliance with the USMCA requirements, and what trade should look out for in the coming months.

Wednesday, September 9, 2020 - 1:00pm – 3:00pm

Welcome and Introduction: 

• Valarie M. Neuhart, Deputy Executive Director, OTR, CBP

Keynote Remarks:

• Brenda B. Smith, Executive Assistant Commissioner, OT, CBP

Forced Labor
 

Moderator:

• Ana Hinojosa, Executive Director, OT

Speakers:

• Sarah L. Bessell, Deputy Director, The Human Trafficking Legal Center

• James  W. McCament, Deputy Under Secretary, Office of Strategy, Policy and Plans, Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

• Keigan Mull, Trade Counsel, Committee on Ways & Means - Democrats

• John  Cotton Richmond, Ambassador-at-Large, U.S. Department of State

• Brian White, Director, Global Compliance, Trade and Responsible Sourcing, The J.M. Smucker Company 

Description:

The statute on prohibiting the importation of goods produced with forced labor dates back to the Tariff Act of 1930, with some similar language appearing in statutes even a decade before that.  However, it wasn’t until February of 2016 that Congress eliminated the “consumptive demand clause” from the statute, as part of the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015, commonly referred to as TFTEA. This session will give you a broad panorama of the many facets of forced labor and the landscape of the challenges and opportunities.

Wednesday, September 9, 2020 - 3:30pm – 5:00pm

Welcome and Introduction: 

• Valarie M. Neuhart, Deputy Executive Director, OTR, CBP

Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT)
 

Moderator:

• Peter Touhy, Director, Miami CTPAT Field Office, OFO, CBP

Speakers:

• Manuel A. Garza, Director, CTPAT, OFO, CBP

• Mark Isaacson, Director, Buffalo CTPAT Field Office, OFO, CBP

• Carlos E. Ochoa, Branch Chief, Trade Engagement and Communications, OFO, CBP

• Carmen E. Perez, Branch Chief, Trade Compliance, OFO, CBP

Description:

 This session will provide an overall CTPAT program update including details regarding security profiles and minimum-security criteria requirements.  Learn more about what to expect from a virtual validation, the Trade Compliance portal, and what forced labor social compliance will mean to your CTPAT/Trade Compliance status.

Thursday, September 10, 2020 - 1:00pm – 3:00pm

Welcome and Introduction: 

• Valarie M. Neuhart, Deputy Executive Director, OTR, CBP

Keynote Remarks:

• William A. Ferrara, Executive Assistant Commissioner, OFO, CBP

E-Commerce
 

Moderator:

• Thomas Overacker, Executive Director, Cargo and Conveyance Security, OFO, CBP

Speakers:

• Ted Henderson, Director Customs, United States for Expeditors International

• Rory Heslington, International Trade Policy Advisor, Senate Committee on Finance

• Brandon Lord, Deputy Executive Director, Trade Policy and Programs, OT, CBP

• James Swanson, Director, Cargo Security and Controls, Cargo and Conveyance, OFO, CBP

Description: 

This session will provide insight and context into the current state of the Section 321 environment. Speakers will provide background on the modern challenges of the Section 321 environment and discuss important recent developments including the Presidential Memorandum report and our recent Section 321 advance data pilot and the Entry Type 86 test. CBP will also discuss next steps and our desired outcomes for the Section 321 operational environment. We also hope to share some industry and Congressional insights on what are the potentials of E-Commerce and the economic opportunities E-Commerce can bring.

Friday, September 11, 2020 - 1:00pm – 3:00pm

Welcome and Introduction: 

• Jon B. Perdue, Executive Director, OTR, CBP

Keynote Remarks:

• Robert E. Perez, Deputy Commissioner, CBP

21st Century Customs Framework (21CCF)
 

Moderator:

• Travis Skinner, Director, Trade Modernization, OT, CBP

Speakers:

• Africa R. Bell, Director, Base Metals Center, OFO, CBP

• James Byram, Executive Director, Trade Transformation Office, OT, CBP

• John Drake, Executive Director, Supply Chain Policy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

• Ted Sherman, Senior Director, Global Trade Operations, Medtronic 

Description: 

The 21CCF is CBP’s comprehensive trade modernization initiative that seeks to address modern trade challenges, leverage emerging opportunities, and achieve transformational long-term change for the 21st century and beyond. Join us as we go “beyond the pillars” to discuss the factors behind CBP’s drive to modernize. We will also introduce an exciting new phase of 21CCF in which CBP is working to turn vision into reality.

For questions, please email TradeEvents@cbp.dhs.gov.