Washington Notebook: Space still available for CBP Trade Symposium

   The annual Trade Symposium hosted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Washington is one month away and the agency is reminding trade practitioners interested in hearing first hand from top leadership about the agency’s progress modernizing its commercial operations that there will not be a second West Coast version of the event this year.
   Key speakers include U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman; World Customs Organization Deputy Secretary General Sergio Mujica; and Rep. Devin Nunes, chairman of the House Ways and Means trade subcommittee.
   There will be general sessions on the Automated Commercial Environment deployment, export compliance, and the Commercial Operations Advisory Committee. Breakout sessions will cover topics such as the Centers for Excellence and Expertise, air cargo security programs, trusted trade programs, and industry partnership in trade enforcement.
   Registration opened Sept. 18 and there is still space available.
   The Trade Symposium costs $108 and will be held at the Washington Hilton in Washington Oct. 24-25. This year’s theme is “Increasing Economic Competitiveness through Global Partnerships and Innovation.”
   Up to three representatives per company may register.
   The annual conclave has proven extremely popular with the trade community over the past 13 years, selling out and requiring the agency to move to larger venues.
   Registrations are down so far compared to prior years. A CBP spokesperson had no explanation for the lower numbers, but one possible reason could be concern over the looming government shutdown on Oct. 1 due to congressional inaction over the fiscal year 2014 budget.
   Details on registration for the Trade Symposium are available here.