October date penciled in for CBP’s Trade Symposium

   U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s annual Trade Symposium is tentatively scheduled for Oct. 24-25 in Washington, D.C., agency officials said Thursday during the quarterly meeting of the Commercial Operations Advisory Committee. 
   Details will be announced when planning has been finalized.
   Hundreds of trade professionals who regularly deal with customs issues attend the gathering each year to hear directly from agency leaders about the CBP’s progress and goals for the upcoming year in the area of trade efficiency, enforcement and security. Attendees also have formal and informal opportunities to exchange ideas and raise concerns with officials.
   Last year CBP held two versions of the popular event, one on the West Coast in the spring and the regular conference in Washington in November. The East Coast Trade Symposium was rescheduled twice last year, first when officials realized there was not enough notice for most people to attend in September and then when Superstorm Sandy forced the October event to be postponed.
   The next COAC meeting is scheduled for Nov. 14 in Washington. – Eric Kulisch