OTTAWA, Ont. — The Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) says it is “encouraged” by its discussions with stakeholders this week concerning the future of the Canada-US Beyond the Border Action Plan.
 
CTA participated in the Border Commercial Consultative Committee (BCCC) along with members of Canada’s trade community and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), as well as the Beyond the Border Action Plan Town Hall meeting in Niagara Falls, N.Y. where officials from both sides of the border were present alongside Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Deputy Commissioner Winkowski and CBSA President Portelance.
 
Discussions centred on programs and initiatives contained in the Border Action Plan and next steps that will be taken as the Plan is executed. As a key player in discussions on any border-related changes, CTA remains closely involved on several programs contained in the plan and continues to work with officials from various government departments on partnership opportunities.
 
“I am encouraged by the discussions held this week on the implementation of the Border Action Plan,” said Jennifer Fox, CTA’s vice-president of Customs and compliance. “President Portelance and Deputy Commissioner Winkowski made clear that both Canada and the US are fully committed to partnership, communication and engagement with stakeholders and creating improved efficiencies while enhancing security at the border.”
 
CTA officials say discussions on the recently released Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on the in-bond process were of “particular interest” to the group. During the discussion, CBP stressed the importance of carriers taking part in the NPRM process by submitting comments so their views and interests are reflected in the Final Rule.

CTA says it will be submitting comments and is encouraging its members to do so as well. Comments received will be considered by CBP as an in-transit strategy is developed between the two countries – something the CTA says it has long sought.
 
“Engagement and participation by CTA and our members during this process are essential to its success,” said Fox. “The action plan contains aggressive timelines and we will do what is necessary to meet them. Once implemented, the plan will have long-standing positive impacts for those in the trade community and in particular, the trucking industry.”