U.S. CUSTOMS SIGNALS DIRECTION FOR C-TPAT PROGRAM

U.S. CUSTOMS SIGNALS DIRECTION FOR C-TPAT PROGRAM    U.S. Customs has outlined its future plans for a program that gets the shipping industry more directly involved in the protection of the inbound international supply chain.
   The agency announced the program, Customs — Trade Partnership Against Terrorism, or C-TPAT, a year ago in response to the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States and the on-going threat of future strikes through conveyances used to move international shipments.
   “We’re assessing risk,” said Robert Perez, director of C-TPAT in Customs’ Office of Field Operations. “We’re focusing on the unknown.”
   To participate in C-TPAT, companies complete a security questionnaire for Customs and agree to develop programs to enhance security throughout their supply chains. Customs agrees to provide C-TPAT participants with faster cargo clearances and fewer exams.
   To date, there are 1,115 companies that have signed C-TPAT agreements with Customs, including 764 importers, 252 customs brokers/freight forwarders, and 99 carriers.
   While Customs will continue to accept more industry participants, the agency is ready to enhance the value of the security-related program for both the government and industry.
   Early next year, the agency will hold the first of several anti-terrorism training seminars for the industry. The seminars involve sharing best practices to improve security for freight, facilities and personnel. The goal is to “build a cadre of C-TPAT security specialists in companies involved in shipping,” said Perez at Customs’ third annual Trade Symposium in Washington Nov. 21.
   The agency also plans to develop a program for “security validations” of shipping industry supply chains to identify weaknesses and improvements. Perez affirmed that the validations were not “audits,” and would be developed with the help of the shipping industry.
   In addition, Customs will work with international organizations, such as the Business Anti-Smuggling Coalition, to build similar customs/industry supply chain security programs overseas.