MANER ADDRESSES JOINT INDUSTRY GROUP

MANER ADDRESSES JOINT INDUSTRY GROUP    Andrew Maner, director of the Office of Trade Relations for U.S. Customs, said that Customs-industry partnerships, such as the Business Anti-Smuggling Coalition and the Customs-Trade Partnership against Terrorism, are vital programs that enhance security while allowing commerce to continue.
   Maner, speaking at the Joint Industry Group meeting Tuesday, applauded companies that had volunteered to participate in the Customs-Trade Partnership against Terrorism. Last week, Customs sent out 210 invitations to importers to participate in the effort.
   He encouraged trade executives to communicate with their clients to ensure that national security is paramount in all business dealings. “You have to tell your network that it is important to you; that is the essence of CTPAT,” he said.
   Maner said the business-government partnerships such as CTPAT and BASC are good initiatives, but Customs won't stop there in the war against terrorism. Last week the United States placed inspectors in the port of Vancouver to inspect U.S.-bound containers. He cited that the Container Security Initiative, a program which espouses pre-screening of containers before departure, as another Customs initiative to strengthen security in trade.
   Maner said that with legislation and the implementation of the Automated Commercial Environment, national security and trade will function without interference from the other.
   “I believe ACE will be the mother of all government security systems,” he said.