National Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Association - Explained
What is the NCBFFA?
Written by J. Mance Gordon
Updated at April 21st, 2024
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What is the National Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Association?
The National Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Association is an international trade advocacy organization in the United States that aims to educate their members regarding legislative and regulatory issues. The organizations members include freight forwarders, customs brokers, ocean transportation intermediaries (OTIs), NVOCCs and air cargo agents, and their employees. It is a large lobbyist group in the nations capitol.
What does the National Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Association Do?
Headquartered in Washington, DC, the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America, Inc. (NCBFAA) serves the interest of more than 1,000 member companies with 110,000 employees in international trade. On March 22, 1897, Customs Clerks Association of the Port of New York was established. The members of the associations were the customs brokers and clerks in the U.S. Customs Service of the Port of New York. It was incorporated as a non-profit organization. It was succeeded by the New York Customs Brokers Association, organized on March 9, 1922. Only licensed Customs brokers of the Port of New York were eligible to get a membership of the organization.
The organization was incorporated on February 23, 1933. During World War II, the port of New York was closed, and New Orleans took over to become the foremost port in the country. The freight forwarders moved to New Orleans and other places. After the war, in 1945 the organization changed its membership eligibility and all licensed Customs brokers in the United States were welcomed to join. The limit of membership to New York firms only was removed by amending the regulation. The Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America, Inc., (CBFAA) was incorporated in 1948 to replace the New York Customs Brokers Association. An amendment was made to include forwarders as regular members on a national basis, and as associate members on an international basis.
On June 6, 1962, the name of the association was changed to National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America, Inc. (NCBFAA) to give it a more national outlook and reflect a new and wider scope. International air cargo agents in the United States (CNS/IATA) and non-vessel operating common carriers (NVOCCs) became eligible for obtaining membership and affiliate membership designations expanded. The association works through committees, counsel, and representatives. The organization closely monitors the legislative and regulatory issues that impact its members and keeps them informed about all the changes. It issues weekly Monday Morning eBriefing to inform its members about all the legislative and regulatory changes and other relevant issues. Apart from this, various meetings and conferences are held throughout the year.