COAC ADVISORY TEAM ISSUES REPORT ON IMPROVING U.S. BORDER SECURITY

COAC ADVISORY TEAM ISSUES REPORT ON IMPROVING U.S. BORDER SECURITY    A group of senior industry executives, along with the U.S. Department of Treasury, has released a report on recommendations for tightening border supply chain security.
   The report’s focus on enhanced border security is an accumulation of information from industry players and the U.S. Treasury’s Commercial Operations Advisory Committee (COAC).
   While noting there are no instances in which terrorists have used commercial cargo shipments for terrorism, the report said that “anticipating the situations in which this might occur poses an enormous burden” on U.S. officials and industry.
   The COAC Border Security Technical Advisory Team, co-chaired by James Finnegan, director of Global Trade Services for Kulicke & Soffa, and Michael Laden, president of Target Customs Brokers, had broken off into four teams to propose security-enhancing initiatives.
   The four subcommittees of the Technical Advisory Team, and their leaders, respectfully were:
   * Production and manufacturing: William Cook of DaimerChrysler, and Carol Fuchs of Motorola.
   * Transportation and distribution: Philip Hughes of UPS, and Sandra Scott of Roadway Express.
   * Import and data exchange: Tim Van Oost of BP America, and Kevin Smith of General Motors.
   * Technology: Barry Wilkins of Pinkerton.
   The report, which is the result of research, consultations and meetings that began last November, examines security for: manufacturing; ocean, land and air carriers; importers; customs brokers; and warehouse sites. The report adds that recommendations for physical security, access controls and procedural and personnel, which could be activated to tighten border supply chain security.
   Copies of the report will be available at COAC’s Jan. 25 meeting in Washington. “It is our hope that the recommendations in this report will be considered and adapted” at the Jan. 25 meeting, Finnegan said.