0 Photo Credit: GETTY IMAGES
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection has unveiled a new continuing education requirement for customs brokers, aimed at promoting compliant trade and safeguarding against illicit trade entering U.S. commerce. This move comes in response to the increasingly interconnected nature of global trade.
Troy A. Miller, a senior official serving as commissioner, stated on Wednesday, "Today's announcement of new training requirements for customs brokers is an important and long-awaited step forward in improving trade enforcement. As the volume of global trade increases and global supply chains become increasingly complex, the role of the customs broker is also evolving, requiring them to stay up-to-date on emerging priorities and regulations."
This regulation, which has been signed off by Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas, mandates individual customs brokers to complete 36 hours of continuing education every three years. This education will focus on evolving customs regulations and related U.S. trade laws, and will be essential for customs brokers to maintain a valid license.
AnnMarie R. Highsmith, executive assistant commissioner of CBP's Office of Commerce, highlighted the role of customs agents in facilitating the movement of approximately 107,500 shipments worth $9.2 billion into the United States daily. "These new requirements will ensure that customs brokers stay up-to-date on U.S. trade laws and regulations, creating another critical layer of protection against bad actors seeking to take advantage of increased trade to hide illegal products that would directly harm consumers and the economy," she said.
CBP has stated it will provide additional guidance on the continuing education requirements for the upcoming triennial 2024-2027 status period and will supply information on course offerings through CBP and U.S. government partner agencies in due course. A range of continuing education credits will be made available at no cost to customs brokers. Education and training activities offered by entities other than CBP or a U.S. government partner agency will require approval from an accreditor chosen by CBP.
More information on the short-term accreditation process and regular updates on the new requirements will be posted on the CBP.gov customs brokers page. For more resources on the new regulation, interested parties can visit the Customs Brokers page on CBP's website.
Advertisements
