Update on CBP's New "Office of International Trade"
Effective October 15, 2006, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) created a new Office of International Trade (OT, previously known as the Office of Trade).
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Prior to this change, CBP states that the functions of trade policy and program development were in three offices within CBP: the Office of Strategic Trade (OST), the Office of Regulations and Rulings (OR&R), and the Office of Field Operations (OFO).
According to sources, the changes are, or are expected to be, as follows:
OST has become OT, with OT housed in the offices of the former OST. OT is headed by Assistant Commissioner Daniel Baldwin who previously headed OST.
OR&R is now under OT and has become an "office within an office."
OFO is expected to be split apart no sooner than December 1, 2006, with some divisions going to OT, and others remaining in OFO, as follows:
o It is expected that OFO's Textile Enforcement and Operations Division (Quota and Visa Branch, Textile Operations Branch, and Textile Policy Branch) will move to OT.
o The Special Enforcement Division is also expected to move to OT.
o In addition, the Summary and Account Management Division is expected to go to OT.
o The Seizures and Penalties Division is expected to be split, with some branches remaining in OFO, and others going to OT.
o The Cargo Verification Division is expected to remain in OFO.
Import Specialists are expected to remain in OFO, while National Account Managers are expected to move to OT.
Regarding the splitting up of OFO, sources state that "OT will not make policies in a vacuum." Other sources explain that in the past, dividing groups between different offices impeded their ability to work together, similar to working for different companies in the private sector.
For the divisions or partial divisions moving to OT, it is not known if they will co-locate with OT, or remain at their current location (some moves are expected).
(See ITT's Online Archives or 09/15/06 news, 06091505, for BP summary of CBP's announcement of the creation of the Office of Trade.
See ITT's Online Archives or 10/17/06 news, 06101710 for BP summary of the "SAFE" Port Act, which formalized in law, and added certain requirements for, CBP's OT.)