The Trade Bridge Blog

We Are Making a Difference

I'm jazzed to report that Trade Bridge is making an impact. We are providing the WCO with some very welcome and much needed feedback from our members, U.S. SMEs. I was in Brussels in December speaking to a SAFE conference about SME views on C-TPAT. TBI Chairman Bruce Wilson goes to Brussels next week to attend the 2nd SAFE Working Group meeting. As an Observer, TBI can provide input and the SME perspective at an international level.

The Canadian SME community, through their trade associations, are also interested in providing the Canadian perspective for Trade Bridge to represent to the WCO. This would be a valuable addition to the Trade Bridge cause which I will be pursuing in the coming months.

Keep your fingers crossed as CBP reviews my application to COAC. If I am appointed, Trade Bridge and its 7000 SME importer-exporter members, will have a direct line of communication to Congress. Is there any question that this is a movement whose time has come?

10 + 2 Becoming a Reality - Get Prepared

10 + 2 is bearing down on us. The rule is now a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) and in less than 60 days it is likely to be inevitable. For information on how to prepare your company for this change see Customs web site, the American Association of Exporters and Importers Alert, Trade Innovations' write-up, and any of the Trade Bridge International FAQs on 10+2: October 18th, 2007 webinar, June 7th, 2008 webinar. If you are considering direct-filing of your customs entries with TRG Direct you may automatically be prepared to comply with this new security rule. Contact the direct-filing experts for details.

Trade Bridge at the World Customs Organization

Next week Trade Bridge makes its debut at the WCO in Brussels. I'll be presenting an update on C-TPAT from the perspective of SMEs. Thanks to all of you who completed the survey. Your views will be made known at the WCO SAFE Framework of Standards conference on December 11th. Check www.TradeBridgeInternational.com for the results of the C-TPAT Survey.

What is 10? What is 2? What is 24?

Here are the 10 advance data elements to be required by "10+2" from the responsible party, the importer:

1. Manufacturer name and address
2. Seller name and address
3. Container stuffing location
4. Consolidator name and address 
5. Buyer name and address 
6. Ship to name and address   
7. Importer of record number   
8. Consignee number   
9. Country of origin of the goods   
10. Commodity Harmonized Tariff Schedule number (6 digit)

Here are the 2 additional advance data elements to be required by "10+2" from ocean carriers:

1. Vessel Stow Plan
2. Container Status Messages

Expect to have to produce this info 24 hours before the vessel is loaded.

10+2 Redux, featuring John Jurgutis, CBP

Trade Bridge members met with CBP this month courtesy of TBI, to hear about CBP's Security Filing (10+2). Members met in the San Francisco Bay area with John Jurgutis, a Management and Program Analyst for the Secure Freight Initiative. The seminar was simultaneously broadcast to a TBI SME webinar audience. Over 200 SME participants were engaged in finding out what CBP's latest Security Filing (10+2) means for them and their business operations. (The WCO also addressed the audience from Brussels but I'll discuss that topic in a later post.) This effort by CBP to talk directly to SMEs is part of their response to demands from the trade that "CBP needs to reach out and get our feedback." If you're interested in seeing the program materials check out this TBI page. Feedback to CBP can be sent to John Jurgutis.

SBA Trade Programs Act Approved by Committee - Sometimes I Feel So Republican

Sometimes I feel so Republican. (You know, "keep taxes low to stimulate the economy" vs. "increase taxes to pay for programs to stimulate the economy.")

Call me "old-fashioned" but I would like to know that taxpayers' hard earned dollars are actually funding something worthwhile. And that's why I can't quite decide whether I like this amendment to the Small Business Act or not.

The House Small Business Committee just approved an amendment to the Small Business Act that appears to be a big coup for future and beginner SME exporters: "SBA Trade Programs Act of 2007 - To amend the Small Business Act to improve trade programs, and for other purposes." It covers the gamut of govenmental support from finance to trade protection. The intent of expanding U.S. exports via the SME exporter is laudable. I'm just not convinced this is the way to do it.

The amendment will cost taxpayers money to implement and maintain. Will the cost be worth the return to our economy? What is the expected return to our economy? None of this information appears in the amendment so it's impossible to make an informed decision about whether or not to support the amendment.

As an advocate for SME exporters it seems like a slam dunk for Trade Bridge to come out in favor of this amendment. It does, after all, appear to provide significant help to SMEs that want to expand into global markets. But is it prudent to support the amendment on what may simply be, a noble goal? If monies are appropriated (which the amendment calls for) and the amendment doesn't do anything to either improve the export capabilities of SMEs or the U.S. economy it will be wasted time, effort and money.

I'm wary of the government's ability to design and implement these changes effectively and efficiently when the accountability seems either nonexistent or an afterthought. (Again, call me "old-fashioned.")

For now though, I'm keeping an open mind while I conduct more research. Check back here regularly as I will continue to update and post information as I get it.