NAFTA countries join to strengthen security and trade

Nov. 7, 2004
Customs broker associations of Mexico, Canada and the U.S. have joined together to upgrade and insure the security and smooth operation of cross-border

Customs broker associations of Mexico, Canada and the U.S. have joined together to upgrade and insure the security and smooth operation of cross-border trade for these North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) nations.

The newly formed organization is called the North American Customs Brokers Alliance (NACBA). It defines its mission as:

  • To work toward the specification, standardization and streamlining of datasets in existing and novel commercial data channels.
  • To develop strategies and methods to defend and protect the supply chain.
  • To increase the value added by the customs brokerage community.

The three brokerage organizations are Mexico's Confederacion de Asociaciones de Agentes Aduanales de la Republica Mexicana (CAAAREM), the Canadian Society of Customs Brokers (CSCB), and the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America.

The first task the NACBA has set for itself is to present a common position on Advance Commercial Information (ACI) requirements and procedures. All three governments are presently working on advance electronic reporting for crossborder shipments. The Alliance looks to present its agreed-upon ideas by the end of the year.