Crossing the International Border
C-TPAT
While CBP takes the lead on securing America's borders, businesses throughout the world also have a stake in the fight against terror. Out of this shared interest came the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism, a program launched just two months after the 2001 terrorist attacks. C-TPAT seeks to safeguard the world's vibrant trade industry from terrorists,
maintaining the economic health of the U.S. and its neighbors. The partnership develops and adopts measures that add security but do not have a chilling effect on trade, a difficult balancing act.
C-TPAT was launched in November 2001 with just seven major importers as members. As of March 2008, the partnership has grown to more than 8,200 certified partners that span the gamut of the trade community.
These include U.S. importers, U.S./Canada highway carriers; U.S./Mexico highway carriers; rail and sea carriers; licensed U.S. Customs brokers; U.S. marine port authority/terminal operators, U.S. freight consolidators, ocean transportation intermediaries and non-operating common carriers; Mexican and Canadian manufacturers, and Mexican long-haul carriers. These 8,000-plus companies account for over 50 percent (by value) of what is imported into the United States.
By extending the
United States' zone of security to the point of origin, the customs-trade partnership allows for better risk assessment and targeting, freeing CBP to allocate inspectional resources to more questionable shipments. The partnership establishes clear supply chain security criteria for members to meet and in return provides incentives and
benefits like expedited processing. A corollary is to extend the partnership anti-terrorism principles globally through cooperation and coordination with
the international community. Back in 2005, the World Customs Organization established the Framework of Standards to Secure and Facilitate Global Trade, which compliments and globalizes CBP's and the partnership's cargo security efforts.
The way C-TPAT works is, in joining the anti-terror partnership, companies sign an agreement to work with CBP to protect the supply chain, identify security gaps and implement specific security measures and best practices. Additionally, partners provide
CBP with a security profile outlining the specific security measures the company has in place. Applicants must address a broad range of security topics and present security profiles that list action plans to align security throughout their supply chain.
C-TPAT members are considered low-risk and are therefore less likely to be examined. This designation is based on a company's past compliance history, security profile, and the validation of a sample international supply chain.
CBP is currently undertaking the process of signing mutual recognition arrangements with other countries. The goal of these arrangements is to link the various international industry partnership programs, so that together they create a unified and sustainable security posture that can assist in securing and facilitating global cargo trade.
The goal of aligning partnership programs is to create a system whereby all participants in an international trade transaction are approved by the
customs function as observing specified standards in the secure handling of goods and relevant information. C-TPAT signed an agreement with New Zealand in June 2007, and similar agreements are expected to be signed in the future.
To learn more about the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism program visit www.CBP.gov
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