[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 77 (Friday, April 21, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24623-24626]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-08394]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

[Docket No. USCBP-2023-0006]


Public Meeting: Green Trade Innovation and Incentives Forum

AGENCY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Department of 
Homeland Security (DHS).

ACTION: Notice of public meeting; request for presentation proposals 
and public comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will host a public 
Green Trade Innovation and Incentives Forum and invites interested 
parties to participate. CBP is announcing this public meeting to 
solicit and share ideas related to green trade innovation and 
incentivization of clean and sustainable supply chains and trade 
decarbonization. To that end, CBP is collecting public comments in 
response to this notice to be shared and discussed during the forum, 
focusing on the following themes: green data as a strategic asset; 
green trade incentives; and green trade-related research and 
innovation. CBP is also soliciting proposals from industry volunteers 
to participate in a Trade Sustainability Leadership Showcase that will 
be held during the event. This notice provides information on CBP's 
goals for this public meeting, its commitment to environmental 
stewardship, and its Green Trade Strategy.

DATES: 
    Meeting: The Green Trade Innovation and Incentives Forum will be 
held on Tuesday, July 11, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EDT.
    Pre-registration: Members of the public wishing to attend the 
meeting, whether in-person or via videoconference, must pre-register as 
indicated in the ADDRESSES section by 5 p.m. EDT, Tuesday, June 20, 
2023.
    Cancellation of pre-registration: Members of the public who are 
pre-registered to attend and later need to cancel should do so by 5 
p.m. EDT, Tuesday, June 27, 2023. Participants who wish to cancel their 
pre-registration should email [email protected] to notify 
CBP of their cancellation.

[[Page 24624]]

    Showcase presentation proposals: Members of the public who wish to 
participate in the Trade Sustainability Leadership Showcase must submit 
a proposal as indicated in the ADDRESSES section by 5 p.m. EDT, Monday, 
May 22, 2023. CBP expects to notify those individuals selected to 
participate in the Showcase of their selection by Tuesday, June 13, 
2023. Showcase participants are expected to attend in-person.
    Submission of comments: Members of the public wishing to submit 
comments in response to the Green Trade Themes, as described in the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section, must do so by 5 p.m. EDT, Monday, 
May 22, 2023, by using one of the methods described in the ADDRESSES 
section. CBP expects to notify those individuals selected to offer 
comments during the meeting of their selection by Tuesday, June 20, 
2023.

ADDRESSES: 
    Meeting: The Green Trade Innovation and Incentives Forum will be 
conducted in-person and via videoconference. The in-person meeting will 
be held at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, 600 Dulany Street, 
Alexandria, Virginia 22314. A link to participate via videoconference 
will be provided to those individuals who pre-register for the virtual 
attendance option. For information on services for individuals with 
disabilities or to request special assistance at the meeting, contact 
Ms. Lea-Ann Bigelow, Office of Trade, U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection, at [email protected] as soon as possible.
    Pre-registration: Meeting participants may attend either in-person 
or via videoconference after pre-registering using one of the methods 
indicated below; on-site registration is not permitted.
    For members of the public who plan to attend the meeting in-person, 
please pre-register online at https://sri-csl.regfox.com/greentradeforum-inperson.
    For members of the public who plan to participate via 
videoconference, please pre-register online at https://sri-csl.regfox.com/greentradeforum-virtual.
    Trade Sustainability Leadership Showcase Presentation Proposals: 
Industry members who wish to be considered for participation in the 
Trade Sustainability Leadership Showcase should send a presentation 
proposal no more than five hundred (500) words in length to 
[email protected]. The proposal should include your name 
and the name of your organization, a working title for your 
presentation, and your organization's role in the international trade 
industry. Please see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for more 
information about additional required contents of the proposal.
    Submission of Comments: To facilitate public participation, we are 
inviting public comment on the three Green Trade Themes described 
below. In addition to submitting written comments to the docket, 
participants in the in-person and virtual components of the forum may 
also be selected for the opportunity to offer a public statement during 
the meeting. These oral comments are encouraged to stimulate discussion 
and knowledge sharing among the forum's participants. Please see the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for more information on the comment 
themes and submission of written or oral comments. All comments--
whether intended solely for the written docket or for oral presentation 
during the forum--must be submitted in writing according to the 
following instructions:
    Instructions for Submission of Oral Comments: For those who wish to 
give a public statement in-person or virtually during the meeting, 
please send your comments to [email protected], include 
the docket number USCBP-2023-0006 in the subject line of the message, 
indicate your interest in providing oral comment and provide the 
following information: first and last name; title/position; phone 
number; email address; name and type of organization; identify the 
theme to which you wish to speak (each individual will be limited to 
one public statement on one theme); and provide your comment. CBP will 
then post your comment on the docket without the personal information. 
If you wish to give a public statement in-person or virtually during 
the meeting, please do not send your comments through the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal, as the identification information is required for 
CBP to contact you, and all comments sent to the portal will be posted 
without change. Please do not submit personal information to the 
Federal eRulemaking portal.
    Instructions for Submission of Written-Only Comments: All comments 
submitted to the docket must include the words ``Department of Homeland 
Security'' and the docket number for this action: USCBP-2023-0006. 
Comments may be submitted by one (1) of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Email: [email protected]. Include the docket 
number USCBP-2023-0006 in the subject line of the message. CBP will 
post comments received by email on the docket without change.
    Docket: For access to the docket or to read background documents or 
comments, go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal--http://www.regulations.gov--and search for Docket Number USCBP-2023-0006. To 
submit a comment, click the ``Comment'' button located on the top-left 
hand side of the docket page.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Lea-Ann Bigelow, Office of Trade, 
U.S. Customs and Border Protection, at (202) 863-6000 or at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

CBP Green Trade Strategy Overview

    In executing its trade mission, U.S. Customs and Border Protection 
(CBP) is charged with facilitating legitimate cross-border trade while 
enforcing U.S. trade laws and keeping the American public safe. This 
mission has long encompassed the protection of natural resources and 
prevention of environmental degradation. Climate change and other 
environmental challenges are critical considerations for CBP, as it 
carries out its mission of protecting the American people, safeguarding 
U.S. borders, and enhancing the nation's economic prosperity. While 
climate change and other environmental considerations pose significant 
challenges for CBP's trade mission and the trade participants CBP 
serves, they also provide new opportunities for innovation and 
improvement in trade processes, technology and standards, as well as 
opportunities for enhanced partnerships, collaboration, and knowledge 
sharing. The United States is pursuing a whole-of-government approach 
to addressing climate change as articulated in Executive Order 14008 
(Jan. 27, 2021).
    In recognition of these challenges and opportunities, and its 
commitment to building a more sustainable future for trade, CBP 
announced the launch of the CBP Green Trade Strategy at the World 
Customs Organization (WCO) in Brussels in June 2022. The Green Trade 
Strategy establishes CBP's vision to build resilience and address 
environmental and climate-related threats, while capitalizing on 
opportunities to grow the economy and accelerate innovation in a 
sustainable way. The Green Trade Strategy aligns with broader 
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) efforts (such as the DHS Climate 
Action Plan, which can be found at www.dhs.gov/dhs-actions-

[[Page 24625]]

climate-change) and supports a whole-of-government approach to 
mitigating risk and seizing opportunities associated with climate 
change and environmental stewardship. The Green Trade Strategy aims to 
incentivize green trade, accelerate green innovation, strengthen CBP's 
environmental enforcement posture, and improve the agency's climate 
resilience and resource efficiency.
    Details of the Strategy can be found at https://www.cbp.gov/trade/cbp-green-trade-strategy. Through the Green Trade Strategy, CBP will 
establish itself as a champion for the green economy and facilitate the 
global transition to a cleaner, more climate-resilient trading 
environment. CBP intends to exemplify higher, greener standards for 
global trade while creating an opportunity for government, industry, 
and the public to unify efforts in the creation of a more sustainable 
future.
    As we progress further into the 21st century, there is widespread 
recognition of the challenges that climate change is creating and will 
continue to create for the international trade community. Recent 
studies have indicated that global supply chains contribute a 
significant amount to the world's total carbon emissions. Resource 
extraction and cultivation methods, production and storage 
requirements, the movement of persons and materials, and the 
transportation of goods represent various points in the supply chain 
that may generate emissions. Each stage in the supply chain also 
represents an opportunity for greener, more sustainable practices.
    CBP is well positioned to make a positive difference on the path to 
a cleaner, environmentally-resilient future due to the agency's ability 
to influence global supply chain practices as well as its ability to 
enforce against natural resource crimes, but it cannot meet this 
challenge alone. Greening global supply chains and combatting the 
negative impacts of climate change and environmental degradation will 
necessitate innovative partnerships between public and private 
organizations with a stake in building a more sustainable future for 
trade.

Agenda

Green Trade Innovation and Incentives Forum

9 a.m.-12 p.m.--Opening Remarks, Keynote Presentations and Trade 
Sustainability Leadership Showcase
1 p.m.-5 p.m.--Public Statements and Open Public Comment on Green Trade 
Themes

Trade Sustainability Leadership Showcase

    To highlight the various ways that industry organizations within 
the international trade community are currently leading in their 
efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, conserve natural resources, 
and increase overall environmental sustainability within their 
operations, CBP will be hosting a Trade Sustainability Leadership 
Showcase during the Green Trade Innovation and Incentives Forum. The 
Showcase will present an opportunity and platform for selected members 
of the international trade community to share their successes, best 
practices, challenges and lessons learned in greening their own 
operational processes and footprints, as well as discuss the ways they 
are working with supply chain and other business partners to reduce 
emissions, protect natural resources, and generate innovative 
solutions. While the Showcase cannot represent all experiences and 
perspectives, it is CBP's hope that the sustainability journeys of 
those organizations featured will inspire further creative thinking, 
knowledge sharing, and problem solving across the international trade 
community.
    Members of the public who wish to participate in the Trade 
Sustainability Leadership Showcase should submit a proposal, following 
the instructions under the ADDRESSES section. The proposal should be no 
more than five hundred (500) words in length, include your name and the 
name of your organization, a working title for your presentation, and 
your organization's role in the international trade industry. The 
proposal should also provide a summary of how your organization is 
actively greening its footprint and increasing sustainability of its 
own supply chain and trade processes, including best practices and 
lessons learned. CBP will evaluate and select participants and their 
submissions based upon considerations such as industry experience, 
sustainability goals and practices, and ability to effectively share 
their knowledge alongside other panelists, as well as CBP's desire to 
feature a balanced range of industry perspectives. CBP will notify all 
individuals selected to participate of their selection by Tuesday, June 
13, 2023.

Public Statements and Open Public Comment on Green Trade Themes

    Furthermore, CBP invites members of the public to participate 
through oral and written comments on the themes below. The public may 
submit written comments to the docket, following the instructions in 
the ADDRESSES section. Members of the public who wish to provide a 
public statement should likewise follow the instructions under the 
ADDRESSES section. Due to time and content considerations, it is 
possible that not all persons who express an interest in making a 
public statement will be able to do so. Speakers will be selected based 
on time considerations and to ensure that diverse, individual 
perspectives are highlighted. CBP will select and contact individuals 
to deliver public statements starting no later than Tuesday, June 20, 
2023. Members of the public may submit as many comments as they wish; 
however, any commenter who is selected to provide an oral public 
statement during the event will be limited to one statement on one 
theme, during one timeslot.
    CBP has identified three key topics for international trade 
industry and public input: (1) Green Data as a Strategic Asset; (2) 
Green Trade Incentives; and (3) Green Trade Research and Innovation. 
Brief descriptions of each theme are provided in this document along 
with the request for public comments on questions posed by CBP related 
to each theme.

(1) Green Data as a Strategic Asset

    CBP and industry efforts to reach climate resilience and 
sustainability goals are anchored on improving decision-making through 
risk management and greater supply chain visibility. These efforts 
include not only exploring how to better utilize big data and 
predictive analytics to drive decision-making, but also the 
identification of operations-related data and other enterprise, supply 
chain, and logistics data that can be applied to optimize business 
efficiency and--by extension--sustainability.
    Public Comment Questions:
     What data have you found useful in greening your trade 
operations? To what data do you wish you had better access?
     What additional data could CBP potentially provide (in 
accordance with existing laws) that would most benefit your sustainable 
decision-making?
     What data or datasets would you like members of the 
international trade community to be aware of as they continue on their 
environmental sustainability journeys?

(2) Green Trade Incentives

    CBP seeks to develop facilitation benefits and other incentives to 
promote environmentally-friendly trade practices and supply chains.
    Public Comment Questions:

[[Page 24626]]

     What are some tangible benefits CBP could provide to trade 
entities to incentivize their transition to more sustainable trade 
practices?
     What are the key underlying principles that CBP should 
follow as we seek to harmonize global green standards?
     What are the major hurdles your organization faces now in 
pursuing greener practices?

(3) Green Trade Research and Innovation

    CBP aims to promote the development and deployment of innovative, 
sustainable green trade practices and technology by public and private 
stakeholders to encourage environmentally conscious operations that are 
informed by cutting-edge research and are able to accommodate on-going 
changes in global trade.
    Public Comment Questions:
     What current opportunities do you see for research and 
innovation in green trade? How is your organization currently advancing 
research into green trade topics and/or pursuing innovative technology 
solutions with the potential to increase the sustainability of global 
trade flows?
     What specific environmental stewardship and sustainability 
gaps or issues do you see in the international trade community that 
could be addressed through investment in emerging technologies, and 
what are those technologies?
     What challenges do you face in bringing green trade 
innovation and technology solutions to market or incorporating them on 
an industry-wide scale?

    Dated: April 17, 2023.
AnnMarie R. Highsmith,
Executive Assistant Commissioner, Office of Trade.
[FR Doc. 2023-08394 Filed 4-20-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111-14-P