Kerlikowske Sworn in as CBP Commissioner, Addresses Trade Symposium
Fresh off of the Senate's approval of Gil Kerlikowske as CBP Commissioner (see 14030712), the new agency head told the CBP Trade Symposium March 7 that he has put in significant work already toward gaining understanding of trade. The long wait for Senate confirmation allowed Kerlikowske to gear up on the trade side of CBP, he said. Kerlikowske was responding to any concerns that his enforcement background, most recently as head of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, might mean less attention to trade facilitation, he said.
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Kerlikowske, who had not been officially sworn in when he spoke at the symposium, was sworn in the afternoon of March 7. CBP Acting Commissioner Thomas Winkowski moved back to Deputy Commissioner at the agency as a result of Kerlikowske taking over the Commissioner position. Kerlikowske promised to follow Winkowski's lead by keeping his door open to the trade community and work toward "co-creation" of policy at CBP.
Trade groups voiced support for Kerlikowske on March 7. The U.S. Council for International Business "and its members have a very ambitious customs policy agenda this year,” said Kristin Isabelli, USCIB’s director for customs and trade facilitation, in a press release (here). “Commissioner Kerlikowske’s confirmation enables us to hit the ground running on our priorities, which are essential to continue the growth U.S. trade and the American economy.
The Airforwarders Association (AfA) also lauded the confirmation. "As a vitally important component of our nation's homeland security framework, CBP is critical to meeting the twin challenges of keeping America safe while ensuring the robust flow of international commerce to keep our economy strong," said Brandon Fried, the AfA's executive director in a statement (here). "To help meet these goals, the AfA works closely and cooperatively with CBP on a number of issues, most particularly the refinement and implementation of the Air Cargo Advanced Screening initiative, and we are delighted that the agency again has permanent leadership," said Fried.