TUCSON, Ariz. -- CBP Commissioner Gil Kerlikowske plans to step down from his post ahead of the coming change in presidential administration, he said while talking to reporters at the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America conference. Kerlikowske didn't give specifics on timing, but said he would leave the position by the end of the year. Kerlikowske will focus on the implementation of customs reauthorization bill, among other things, during his remaining time at CBP, he said. After a lengthy delay, Kerlikowske became the first Senate-confirmed commissioner in about five years when he was sworn in during March 2014.

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President Barack Obama signed the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015, formalizing the legislation as law on Feb. 24, the White House said. The new law marks the culmination of several years of discussion and debate largely over new antidumping and countervailing duty enforcement language. The enactment initiates a number of major changes to customs processing, such as new importer identification requirements for customs brokers, fixes to tariffs for recreational performance outerwear, and updates to reliquidation procedures. An increase of the "de minimis" threshold to $800 will take effect 15 days after enactment, with effective dates varying for other individual provisions. International Trade Today will provide a multi-part summary of the new law in coming issues.

The Senate voted 75-20 on Feb. 11 to approve the conference report of the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015 (HR-644), a major step toward reauthorizing CBP and changing a number of customs processes. The House passed the conference report in December, and Senate approval means the bill will next go to President Barack Obama, who hasn't raised any objections. Several provisions in the bill would take effect 180 days after Obama signs it into law.