Advance data remains high priority for CBP

Advance data remains high priority for CBP    The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is still grappling with how to get commercial information about international cargo movements earlier in the supply chain in order to improve targeting of high-risk containers and reduce the amount of cargo held for automated or physical inspections, Robert Bonner, Customs and Border Protection commissioner, said Monday.
   The border agency chief reiterated that officials are still trying to determine what data elements are useful and whether to create a voluntary incentive or mandate sharing of other information with the government. CBP primarily relies on manifest information submitted by ocean carriers to analyze cargo for terrorist threats and select containers for inspection, but officials have made clear they want more information from importers to shed light on the origin of a shipment and who sent it.
   Speaking to the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America’s Fall conference in Washington, Bonner said getting customs entries in advance of ship arrival is one step that would provide helpful details about the cargo for targeting purposes. About 40 percent of importers already provide entry data three to five days prior to vessel arrival as permitted by customs rules.
   Bonner also reaffirmed that he will make the provision of advance entry information an incentive for companies participating in the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) who want to receive the highest level (Tier 3) of reduced inspections and other benefits offered by the agency, which will ultimately become what is called the “green lane.”
   Another requirement for “green lane” treatment will be that importers ship goods in containers with security devices that can electronically indicate tampering with the doors. But that requirement must wait until the false positive rate for the devices has been corrected, he said.
   In a session with reporters, Bonner said the key to container security was ensuring the integrity of the box at the point of stuffing. Vetting the supply chain operator through C-TPAT style audits can work in many cases, but could be augmented by third-party verifiers in some cases.
   “Do you need them everywhere? Probably not. But maybe you have them in some parts of the world and maybe you don’t need them in other parts” where the terrorist risk is less, he said.