Past Event: 4/26/2023
U.S. Custom House Program
The French-American Chamber of Commerce
and
The International Business Associations of Philadelphia
The Asian American Chamber of Commerce
The British-American Business Council
The Chilean & American Chamber of Commerce
The German American Chamber of Commerce
The Irish American Business Chamber & Network
The Mid-Atlantic - Eurasia Business Council
The World Affairs Council
The World Trade Center
proudly presented
U.S. Customs and Border Protection:
Insights for Global Travel and International Trade
Part 1 of a 3-Part Series
Wednesday, April 26th, 2023
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM ET
In-person Program
U.S. Custom House
200 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM ET
After the museum tour and the panel discussion,
guests continued the conversation and networked
while enjoying complimentary refreshments from
Campo's Deli and
Constitution Cannoli Cafe (across the street)
211 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
This program was interesting to global travelers, international shippers, importers/exporters, logistics companies, and related businesses.
About the Event
On Wednesday, April 26, 2023, the FACC welcomed 40 members and guests from the International Business Associations of Greater Philadelphia who gathered in the stately art deco rotunda of the U.S. Custom House at 200 Chestnut Street. Our VIP program started with an insider's tour of the museum housed in an area for authorized personnel and our group who were individually pre-screened and cleared by CBP Security to attend this exclusive event. The one-room museum features unusual, interesting, and some quite surprising confiscated contraband. U.S. Customs and Border Protection Trade Operations managers were available to provide detailed explanations of the illicit objects on display.
Guests were then ushered upstairs to a Homeland Security private conference room for an interactive Q&A panel discussion with U.S. Customs and Border Protection Trade Operations professionals who provided valuable information for global travelers and businesses engaged in international trade.
After the panel discussion, everyone was invited across the street to an informal networking reception with complimentary refreshments including the freshest Philadelphia hoagies from Campo’s Deli, and award-winning hot chocolate and cannolis from Philly's Cannoli King himself, René Kobeitri, owner of the new Constitution Cannoli Café which opened in December.
Special thanks to the International Business Associations of Greater Philadelphia for their support in making this program a grand success. We recognize and thank FACC Ambassador Member and President Emeritus Jonathan Grode, US Practice Director and Managing Partner of Green and Spiegel US LLC for arranging this panel and leading the informative discussion. Merci beaucoup to Jane Rosenberg, Executive Director of the British American Business Council for her tremendous support including her lively recap and fabulous photos documenting the highlights of this program.
About U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP):
With more than 60,000 employees, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, CBP, is one of the world's largest law enforcement organizations and is charged with keeping terrorists and their weapons out of the U.S. while facilitating lawful international travel and trade.
As the United States’ first unified border entity, CBP takes a comprehensive approach to border management and control, combining customs, immigration, border security, and agricultural protection into one coordinated and supportive activity.
Vision Statement
Enhancing the nation’s security through innovation, intelligence, collaboration and trust.
Mission Statement
Protect the American people, safeguard our borders, and enhance the nation’s economic prosperity.
Enduring Mission Priorities
Counter Terrorism – Anticipate, detect and disrupt the threat of terrorists, their weapons and actions to protect the people and economy of the United States.
Combat Transnational Crime – Detect, deter and disrupt transnational organized crime that threatens U.S. national and economic security interests at and beyond the border.
Secure the Border – Protect the Homeland through the air, land and maritime environments against illegal entry, illicit activity or other threats to uphold national sovereignty and promote national and economic security.
Facilitate Lawful Trade and Protect Revenue – Enable fair, competitive and compliant trade and enforce U.S. laws to ensure safety, prosperity and economic security for the American people.
Facilitate Lawful Travel – Enhance, enable and transform the travel experience by anticipating, detecting and intercepting threats prior to and at ports of entry.
About the U. S. Custom House, Philadelphia, PA
Building History
The U.S. Customs Service was established by the first U.S. Congress in 1789, making it the oldest federal agency in the country. The functions of the Customs Service are to assess and collect duties and taxes on imported goods, to control carriers of imports and exports, and to combat smuggling and revenue fraud.
The U.S. Custom House in Philadelphia is a product of the great federal building projects of the Depression era. Begun in December 1932, it opened on November 10, 1934, at a final cost of more than $3,500,000. Distinguished by richness of materials, by the quality of its design, and by a decorative program by a major local artist, the U.S. Custom House is a fitting architectural monument to Philadelphia's status as one of the nation's largest ports.
Click Here to learn more about the U.S. Custom House's Building History and Architecture!
Organized by:
Special Thanks to Our Program Partners:
Merci Beaucoup to Our Program Supporters:
Event Photos:
From Left to Right: Area Port of Philadelphia: Rene Ortega, Acting Director for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP); Sean Butler, Chief CBP Officer; Joshua Mason, CBP Philadelphia Trade Supervisor; and our Moderator, FACC President Emeritus Jonathan A. Grode, Esq., Managing Partner and US Practice Director, Green and Spiegel US LLC - Immigration Law.
