U.S. Chamber’s Supply Chain Summit Highlights Importance of Security & Efficiency
Preliminary Survey Results Identify Priorities for Modernizing Hemispheric Customs Processes
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Chamber of Commerce today brought together leading government and business officials at the North American Competitiveness and the Global Supply Chain Summit to develop a strategy that ensures security, predictability, and speed in the global supply chain. Summit participants from Capitol Hill, the administration, and the business community discussed the newly released preliminary results of an ongoing survey of hemispheric customs users, and concluded that security and trade facilitation are mutually supported goals that will lead to greater economic growth.
“The entire global economy relies on complex and integrated supply chains that consistently deliver vital goods and services,” said Ann Beauchesne, vice president of the National Security and Emergency Preparedness Department at U.S. Chamber. “Security and economic prosperity through global trade must go hand-in-hand if we are to continue to grow our economy.”
Today’s summit was attended by a host of government and private industry experts, including Representative Kevin Brady (R-TX) and Commissioner Alan Bersin of U.S. Customs for Border Protection. Speakers focused on identifying solutions through the deployment of risk management principles and global cooperation.
The Association of American Chambers of Commerce in Latin America (AACCLA) also revealed preliminary results of an ongoing survey of hemispheric customs users, designed to identify customs modernization priorities for all countries in the Western Hemisphere. The questions in the survey solicited feedback in three areas: 1) priorities for trade facilitation in the specific countries where you interface with Customs; 2) views on the existing customs law in those countries; and, 3) typical experiences interfacing with Customs.
“The business community recognizes the importance of ensuring national security while still enabling and facilitating the commerce that promotes economic growth,” said Beauchesne. “Simply put, security and trade facilitation can and should be mutually supported goals.”
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.
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