Centers of Excellence and Expertise

The Centers of Excellence and Expertise (CEE) is a US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) initiative to streamline post-trade activities and enhance regulatory compliance. 

The CEE comprises 10 industry-specific centers based at ports across the United States. Each center specializes in a specific market sector, such as automotive or pharmaceuticals. Experts from the Centers offer supply chain businesses in-depth knowledge and experience with the unique compliance challenges within their industry.

The CBP’s goal with the CEE is to promote uniform trade practices across all US ports of entry. The Centers achieve this through centralized decision-making and standard procedures for import-related topics, including product classification, valuation, and compliance. The CEE also helps simplify issue resolution by providing importers with a single point of contact for questions and concerns.

Other CEE Functions

In addition to the CEE’s core functions, the Centers collaborate with the trade community on various programs. This includes outreach initiatives, training sessions, and various business-government partnerships. For example, the CEE regularly hosts industry-specific trade fairs and conferences and offers free training in classification, valuation, and regulatory compliance.