EU Customs and International Trade Manager

at  British American Tobacco

TECHNICAL / FUNCTIONAL / LEADERSHIP SKILLS REQUIRED

The EU Customs and International Trade Manager requires practical experience in understanding how customs & trade legislation and policy impacts the commercial performance of multinational organisations such as BAT. This will include, inter alia:

• A sound understanding of EU legislation, the key milestones are in the process of legislative proposals, key intervention points in the process, and the stakeholders involved in each step of the process.
• An existing network with key individual stakeholders and organisations in the EU relevant for International Trade and Customs arena. This is needed to enable us to monitor key developments, understand the underlying policy agendas of decision-makers and influencers, and to build trusted relationships to engage with them in an appropriate and timely manner. These stakeholders should include, inter alia:
• Stakeholders from the main 3 European institutions: the European Commission (focus on DG TAXUD and DG TRADE), the European Council (focusing on customs and trade attachés) and the European Parliament (focusing on the IMCO and INTA committee)
• Brussels-based trade associations, industry focused as well as business associations which have dedicated committees covering customs and trade; and
• Brussels-based advisors who can be used for 3rd party engagement or who are connected and a source of valuable insights.
• The ability to conduct complex analysis of customs tariff classifications, customs valuations, special procedures and free trade agreements and how this influences commercial outcomes. This includes having an understanding of customs topics such as customs tariff classification, FTAs, management of preferential origin or customs valuation as well as understanding international trade policy and WTO principles such as Harmonised Systems implementation.
• A strong understanding of the political and trade & customs drivers that motivate the stakeholders with whom we engage, allowing our advocacy to be shaped appropriately.
• Understanding how trade & customs policies impact operating costs across global supply chains and manufacturing processes. This includes understanding of how global trade drives customs duty savings through supply chain reorganization and footprint modernisation.
• Excellent communication and soft skills in particular in engagement with external and internal stakeholders as well as some project management knowledge.
• The ability to develop advocacy materials tailored to the relevant technical audience(s) and prepared in a way that reflects international best practices. And, critically, a track record in knowing where to look, how to present advocacy, and who to share it with is critical.
• The ability to identify opportunities for stakeholder events, participate in relevant events and highlight relevant media interest.
• Experience working in the tobacco sector / with excisable goods is an advantage.

EDUCATION / QUALIFICATIONS / CERTIFICATIONS REQUIRED

• Educated at graduate level – and ideally to postgraduate level – in a relevant discipline (economics, finance, accounting, etc).
• A track record in EU affairs advocacy (ideally focusing on customs and trade issues) at an EU affairs consultancy, professional or industry association, corporate, NGO or public administration.

ROLE SUMMARY:

The EU Customs and International Trade Manager, part of BAT’s Global CORA Team, is responsible for working with the Head of EU Fiscal Affairs and International Trade (and with colleagues in Globe House) to, inter alia:

• thoroughly understand the impact of trade and customs policies on our product portfolio, our supply chain and the commercial performance of our business;
• develop the Group strategy, in light of this, re our objectives on customs and international trade; and,
• engage at EU level with key stakeholders on customs and international trade issues.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES AND OBJECTIVES OF THE ROLE:

It is imperative that BAT possesses a strong CORA capability in customs and international trade engagement in Brussels. We must, in particular:

• Leverage existing and future Free Trade Agreements negotiated by the EU (or that will be negotiated) with 3rd party countries / trade blocs.
• Engage with key stakeholders on EU level customs issues that have a material commercial impact on our business.
• Monitor expert groups and committees that discuss excise topics which are organised by the Commission and attended by experts/policy makers from the Member States (e.g. Customs Code Committees): understand how they work, get insights to the agendas and minutes and suggest appropriate suggestions for engagement.
• Monitor the relevant Council Working parties: agendas, minutes and obtain timely insights on the topics.
• Engagement with global organisations including the WCO and the WTO. The EU speaks in these fora with one voice and requires a mandate from the EU Member States. The European (vs. China, USA, Canada, Japan, etc) key interlocutor for any development or proposal coming from the WTO or WCO is the EU Commission’s DG Trade or DG TAXUD. However, the rules for determining the final EU position are complex and give an important role to the Member States’ representatives to endorse the Commission’s proposals.

Our work customs & trade issues in Brussels goes hand-in-hand with the customs and international trade work undertaken by the team in Globe House. A presence in Brussels, in addition to our experts in the centre, is paramount since monitoring and engaging with the appropriate working groups, committees and network of experts on the ground is essential.
Work in this area will include: our engagement efforts vis-à-vis the ongoing EU customs reform; engagement with DG TAXUD and customs attaches throughout the EU on the forthcoming revision to the World Customs Organisation’s Harmonised System; engagement with DG Trade and DG TAXUD to shape international free trade agreements the EU is in the process of negotiating.