Chamber Launches Web Site To Gauge Business Views on Customs Reforms

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The United States Chamber of Commerce launched a Web site today to obtain feedback from the business community on the effectiveness of the customs reforms agreed by all 34 hemispheric trade ministers under the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA).

"Implementation is the key," said Willard A. Workman, Chamber vice president for international affairs. "The commitment made by governments throughout the Americas to carry out these reforms was an important boost for the FTAA, but the business community should work alongside customs officials to see that the reforms are fully implemented.

"We need to hear from business people about their real world experiences," Workman continued. "With the data we gather, we'll be able to work with customs administrators to make the reforms as effective as possible- and that will build support for the FTAA itself."

The U.S. Chamber prepared the survey in consultation with customs experts, the Association of American Chambers of Commerce in Latin America (AACCLA), and the Brazil-U.S. Business Council. The Web site supporting the survey was developed by the Chilean-American Chamber of Commerce, which has prepared a Spanish version of the survey. The Spanish version and a Portuguese version prepared by the American Chamber of Commerce for Brazil/São Paulo will be available soon.

The 34 FTAA governments are performing their own evaluation of customs reforms, through an on-line check-list. Comparing the official checklist with the business community's survey responses will provide useful information that (1) will allow customs administrators to focus on the business community's priorities for reform and (2) will boost the confidence of the business community in the practical benefits of the FTAA process.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation, representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector and region.

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01-09