Last week Congress approved legislation adopting the recommendations made by the 9/11 Commission. Included in the security measure is a requirement for all cargo bound for the United States to be screened for nuclear material prior to being loaded upon ships in foreign ports. Since 2003, all ships destined for the United States are required to transmit to the Department of Homeland Security a detailed cargo list 24 hours prior to loading and a detailed list of the crew, cargo, and voyage history 96-hours prior to arrival in a U.S. port. The Container Security Initiative (CSI) developed in 2001, works to identify high-risk containers and prescreen them prior to departure from their port-of-origin.
The Automated Customs Environment (ACE) e-manifest requirement by Customs and Border Protection is being deployed in stages at all ports of entry for cargo conveyed by land into the U.S. from Canada and Mexico. The Customs and Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) program allows enrolled companies to receive reduced number of inspections and speed the crossing of their goods into the United States. Similarly, the Free and Secure Trade (FAST) program allows its participants, drivers, importers, companies, etc, to also receive expedited border processing.
ACE, CSI, C-TPAT, and FAST are among several efforts by the federal government to increase the security of freight transported into the United States.
The potential for disruptions at our ports of entry due to increased traffic and heightened security have created additional uncertainty and volatility in moving cargo across our borders. In some cases this has prompted industry to move away from established best business practices, such as just-in-time delivery, reducing the efficiency of the supply-chain.
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