PHILADELPHIA, April 8, 2004 — BDP International, a leading global logistics and transportation services company, and its Centrx consulting unit will host a day-long seminar on import/export trade compliance, 7:30 a.m.- 4:15 p.m., May 11, 2004, at the Downtown Club, Public Ledger Building, 150 S. Independence Hall West, Philadelphia.

Titled “Survival of the Fittest,” the seminar/workshop will provide participants insights into current international trade issues, including the new regional free trade agreements, the advance shipment manifest rules of the Trade Act 2002, the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) initiative, export classification, focused assessments and importer self-assessments.

The keynote speaker will be a senior representative from the Washington, D.C. headquarters of the Bureau of Customs & Border Protection (CBP), who will address “CBP Strategic Goals: Modernization, Mission and Vision.”

The seminar will address current issues, involving both security and compliance, which importers and exporters have a need to understand, analyze and process. A special session will feature “Smart Ways to Secure Your Supply Chain,” which will cover the Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT), Container Security Initiative (CSI) and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID).

Concurrent breakout workshop tracks include:

• Imports – Review of Entry, HTSUS Classification and Customs Valuation
• Exports – Understanding the Required Data and Advanced Cargo Information Rules (sea, air, road and rail)
• Imports – Police Yourself and Avoid an Audit from CBP
• Exports – Reduce or Eliminate Duty Rates: Free Trade Agreements. 

Advance registration for the full seminar is $279 (by April 30) and $325 the day of the seminar. Included are breakfast, all sessions, lunch and a comprehensive workbook valued at $200, as well as Institute for Supply Management (ISM) continuing education hours. Registration can be completed on line at www.bdpinternational.com.

For information contact:
Arnie Bornstein,
Director - Marketing and Corporate Communications,
BDP International, Inc..
Phone: 215-629-8493
fax: 215-629-8995
e-mail: abornstein@bdpnet.com

Media Contact:
Henry Raab
For BDP International
610-866-0611
hraab@swb.com

About BDP
BDP International is one of the leading privately held freight logistics / transportation management firms in the U.S. It operates freight logistics centers in more than 20 cities throughout North America and a network of subsidiaries, joint ventures and strategic partnerships in 140 countries. The company serves more than 4,000 customers worldwide. Clients include Bayer, Dow Chemical Company, DuPont, Heineken USA, Honeywell, Johnson & Johnson, Osram Sylvania, Revlon, Rohm & Haas, Trek Bicycle, Wacker, and others. BDP provides a range of services, including ocean, air and ground transportation; 4PL lead logistics process analysis, design and management; export freight forwarding; import customs brokerage and regulatory compliance; project logistics; warehousing/consolidation/distribution; and Internet shipping transaction/tracking management systems.