JOINT INDUSTRY GROUP PICKS CHAIRMAN, SETS COURSE FOR 2000

JOINT INDUSTRY GROUP PICKS CHAIRMAN, SETS COURSE FOR 2000    The Joint Industry Group has appointed Ronald Schoof, manager of customs and export regulations for Caterpillar, to be its new chairman.
   Schoof replaces Joe Vicario Jr., of Texas Instruments. The chairman serves for two years.
   The Joint Industry Group, based in Washington, is a coalition of about 160 companies, including importers, exporters, customs brokers, freight forwarders, trade associations and law firms. The group often deals with U.S. import and export issues involving Treasury, Customs, Commerce, Trade Representative, International Trade Commission and Congress.
   One of the biggest issues for the Joint Industry Group in 2000 is President Clinton’s proposed budget for fiscal 2001. The group is concerned that the Administration will request that Customs’ new system, the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE), be funded through some form of user fee.
   In addition, the Joint Industry Group is concerned that Congress wants to extend the Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF) beyond its 2003 expiration date. MFP raises about $900 million a year for various government programs.
   “The problem with the MPF in the past has been that its revenues have not been dedicated to commercial operations,” Schoof said in a letter to Joint Industry Group members. “If they had been, we would not be engaged in this battle to get ACE funding.”
   The Joint Industry Group is considering whether to oppose an extension of MPF unless Congress dedicates the funds for Customs commercial operations and creates a “working capital fund” to pay for ACE during the next five years.
   The group has opposed funding ACE through new taxes or user fees. “Our goal is not necessarily to promote the use of MPF to pay for ACE, merely to block any proposed extension that does not dedicate funds for ACE,” Schoof said.
   In 2000, the Joint Industry Group will also continue to promote the harmonization of trade policies and procedures through the World Trade Organization, World Customs Organization and Free Trade Area of the Americas.