A National Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Association (NCBFAA) leadership group consisting of President Mary Jo Muoio, Customs Committee Chairman Ken Bargteil, Customs Counsel Alan Klestadt, and Legislative Representative Jon Kent met today with US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Acting Commissioner Jayson Ahern to present the NCBFAA's 'White Paper on Future Development of ACE.'

Under the direction of Customs Chairman Bargteil, the NCBFAA brought together a select committee representing a cross section of our entire industry. The members are some of the most experienced in this automation project and experts on the customs process. Their recommendations, which are captured in the White Paper, were initially reviewed by our ACE Strategy and Automation Committees and finally approved the NCBFAA Board of Directors.

The purpose of the paper is to provide CBP with the thoughts, analysis and recommendations of the NCBFAA for the advancement of the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE). The scope of the paper includes evaluation of factors bearing on the current situation, as well as recommendations for meeting exigent challenges.

In looking at priorities for ACE we have focused on those that are most important to customs brokers, that must be completed for our community to fully migrate to ACE, and that are requisite to decommission ACS. Our recommendations are organized into three groups reflecting their priority to the trade.

Members of the group who developed this paper include Ken Bargteil, Mary Jo Muoio, Amy Magnus, Geoff Powell, Stuart Schmidt, Chip Bown, Alan Klestadt, Arthur` Litman, and Cindy Allen. Assisting the group were John Peterson and Darrell Sekin.

Headquartered in Washington, DC, the NCBFAA represents nearly 860 member companies with 100,000 employees in international trade - the nation's leading freight forwarders, customs brokers, ocean transportation intermediaries (OTIs), NVOCCs and air cargo agents, serving more than 250,000 importers and exporters. Established in 1897 in New York, NCBFAA is the effective national voice of the industry. Through its various committees, counsel and representatives, the Association maintains a close watch over legislative and regulatory issues that affect its members. It keeps them informed of these and other related issues through its weekly Monday Morning eBriefing and various meetings as well as conferences throughout the year. (NCBFAA)