U.S., CANADA EXPAND HIGH-TECH BORDER PROGRAM

U.S., CANADA EXPAND HIGH-TECH BORDER PROGRAM    The United States and Canada said they have expanded the Free and Secure Trade (FAST) paperless cargo clearance program to six additional ports of entry.
   FAST, already in place at six of the busiest land border crossings, is one component of the 30-point smart border security action plan signed by the two governments in early 2002. Under FAST, shippers, carriers and drivers electronically transmit data about the cargo, vehicle and driver to Customs prior to arrival at the border, cutting the processing time at the gate.
   The new FAST ports of entry are:
   * Rock Island-Stanstead, Quebec and Highgate Springs, Vt.
   * St Armand-de-Philipsburg, Quebec and Derby Line, Vt.
   * Lansdowne, Ontario and Alexandria Bay, N.Y.
   * Emerson, Manitoba and Pembina, N.D.
   * North Portal, Saskatchewan and Portal, N.D.
   * Coutts, Alberta and Sweetgrass, Mont.
   The two countries plan to make all major commercial crossings FAST-capable by the end of 2004, according to a joint news release.