U.S. CUSTOMS OPENS C-TPAT TO PORT AUTHORITIES, MARINE TERMINALS

U.S. CUSTOMS OPENS C-TPAT TO PORT AUTHORITIES, MARINE TERMINALS    U.S. Customs will open the enrollment of its Trade Partnership Against Terrorism program to domestic port authorities and marine terminal operators.
   The program, known simply as C-TPAT, is an initiative between the shipping industry and Customs to protect global commerce from terrorist attacks. The program, announced by the agency in April, initially sought membership from importers, carriers, customs brokers and freight forwarders.
   “This marks the next leg in building a comprehensive system to prevent terrorist infiltration of the global trading system,” said Customs Commissioner Robert C. Bonner. “Ultimately, additional links in the international commercial chain will be covered by C-TPAT.”
   C-TPAT requires industry participants to create policies to improve their own security practices and those of their business partners in the supply chain. Once these policies are in place, Customs gives these companies’ imports expedited processing at U.S. ports of entry.
   The agency estimates that about 1,600 companies have agreed to participate in C-TPAT. Of this number, more than 300 are certified members and eligible for “swifter processing benefits,” the agency said.