KOREA JOINS U.S. CUSTOMS CSI PROGRAM

KOREA JOINS U.S. CUSTOMS CSI PROGRAM    The Republic of Korea has agreed to participate in the U.S. Customs Service’s Container Security Initiative, according to a Jan. 17 Customs’ statement.
   CSI was launched a year ago by Commissioner Robert Bonner to protect containerized trade from being exploited by terrorists. It is based on the concept of pre-screening cargo at its port of origin rather than inspecting it after it arrives at its destination. Participating ports agree to follow standard security procedures, including using automated information to identify and target high-risk containers, high-tech equipment to scan or search containers and tamper-proof, electronic seals.
   One of the core elements of CSI involves placing U.S. Customs inspectors at major foreign seaports to pre-screen cargo containers and detect possible weapons of mass destruction stored in them before they are shipped to the United States. Under terms of the agreement, U.S. Customs officers will be stationed at the port of Busan.
   About a dozen countries, mostly in Europe and Asia, so far have signed on to CSI, covering most of the world’s mega-ports. The latest country to join CSI was Spain, which joined the program Jan. 8.