CBP recommends Bell for WCO post

CBP recommends Bell for WCO post    U.S. Customs and Border Protection has nominated its top lawyer, Sandra Bell, to be director of compliance and facilitation for the World Customs Organization.
   Bell, executive director of the Office of Regulations and Rulings within the Office of International Trade, has 31 years of Customs experience. Her office provides legal advice to policymakers and litigates cases against companies and individuals for violations of customs laws.
   Among her accomplishments are leading the U.S. development and implementation of non-preference rules of origin under the North American Free Trade Agreement, drafting the 24-hour manifest rulemaking, and establishing a formal compliance training program for customs officers
   Former CBP legal chief Michael Schmitz is the current director of compliance and facilitation at the WCO. His five-year term expires at the end of the year, but he has indicated he plans to retire earlier, spokeswoman Erlinda Byrd said.
   It is unlikely that if Bell were to win election in June at the annual WCO Council session that she would be assume her role any earlier than Jan. 1, 2011, so a WCO deputy director probably will fill the remaining months of Schmitz’s term as acting director, she said.
   The WCO is an international body of customs administrations that sets standards on trade and security enforcement, works to simplify and align Customs procedures around the world, and help developing nations build up capabilities to operate a modern customs agency. ‘ Eric Kulisch