U.S., China tighten security collaboration

U.S., China tighten security collaboration    U.S. and Chinese Customs officials on May 9 signed a five-year action plan detailing specific ways their two organizations will cooperate on supply chain security, including joint validations of companies in trusted shipper programs, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said.
   As previously reported by American Shipper, China's General Administration of Customs agreed to allow CBP officers this year and next to audit the supply chain security practices of 200 manufacturers and logistics providers in China that are vendors to U.S. importers in the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism.
   C-TPAT is an accreditation program that encourages companies to tighten security controls throughout production, distribution and transportation to prevent terrorists or criminals from compromising a shipping container with contraband or weapons. Importers that prove security plans have been implemented by themselves and their overseas business partners are five times less likely to receive a time-consuming security inspection upon arrival at a U.S. port, according to CBP.
   Agency specialists conduct security verifications throughout the world, but have had difficulty gaining regular access to China to check companies operating there.
   China operates an Authorized Economic Operator program of its own that more generally attempts to certify the cross-border actions of businesses and their trading partners.
   CBP also signed a memorandum of understanding with China's Ministry of Public Security to cooperate on law enforcement activities, especially intellectual property rights and fraudulent travel documents, CBP said.
   The two organizations will focus on joint operations, information exchange, training and technical assistance. The Ministry of Public Security conducts investigations, raids and seizures of Chinese companies involved in exportation. ' Eric Kulisch