DURANT TO RESIGN FROM U.S. CUSTOMS

DURANT TO RESIGN FROM U.S. CUSTOMS    John Durant, director of commercial rulings for U.S. Customs’ Office of Regulations and Rulings, said late last week he will retire from the agency in June.
   “I leave my post with nothing but positive thoughts,” said Durant, who spent 31 years of his 33 years in public service at Customs.
   Durant began his career with the agency in 1971 as an import specialist in Boston. During that time, he took night classes at Suffolk University to earn his law degree. In the late 1970s, Durant became head of commercial operations for the agency’s Houston region.
   In 1982, Durant was transferred to Customs headquarters in Washington to work on the development of the Automated Commercial System, the agency’s current umbrella computer system. He was assigned to OR&R in 1986.
   In the later years of his Customs career, Durant dealt with some of the most controversial trade issues, such as the reform of the country’s import entry process and duty drawback program.