Brandon Fried is the executive director of the U.S. Airforwarders Association.
\nOnce in a while, even in Washington, D.C., one gets a chance to make an impact and do something worthwhile. Such an opportunity came recently to the Airforwarders Association, along with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, in our capacity as members of an advisory committee to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Together, we are leading a team of industry stakeholders in reviewing the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) program. The task will not be simple, but CBP has all of the right people on the bus to make the program even stronger and increase the security of the supply chain.
\nThe C-TPAT program was created in the wake of the 9\/11 attacks to build cooperative relationships that strengthen international supply chains and U.S. border security. In return, American importers supposedly benefit from a reduced possibility of inspection, fewer supply chain disruptions, and faster movement of their cargo through ports and Mexican and Canadian borders. Other promised benefits include lower insurance premiums, possible mitigation on importer security filings, liquidated damage claims and an increase in public image, which may help to secure business from customers requiring participation in the program as a condition of winning their business.
\nCBP says that C-TPAT is the primary tool in the development of a trusted trader model that will ultimately gain recognition with other countries as they develop and harden their supply-chain security programs. But skeptics have criticized the program as being another government solution in search of a problem. Some say the benefits of joining the initiative are unclear and the security improvement value it promises is questionable. Other critics said they consider C-TPAT a big win only for CBP, while creating limited value and increased expense for traders.
\nHowever, C-TPAT is in dire need of an overhaul. Just imagine purchasing a computer 15 years ago and never installing any of the periodic updates. The machine would be slow, out of date and barely able to run new software that had been designed to reflect current trends. As with an out-of-date computer, C-TPAT has been in operation for 15 years, but has never been updated to reflect CBP\u2019s current overall mission as the security threat continues to evolve and increase, both outside and within our country.
\nAt a recent kick-off meeting for the C-TPAT review project, CBP provided the group with sobering facts pointing to the need for a program review. For instance, from 2006 to 2016, more than 800 supply chain terrorism events took place, equating to one supply chain attack every 2.6 days. Involving all transportation modes, these attacks are designed to cause mass casualties, economic loss and fear in our society. They are also structured to disrupt the flow of international commerce, provide funding to terrorist organizations and eliminate Western presence from source countries.
\nPart of the revamp will continue to include a benefits package designed to motivate program partners. These include probable enhancements to the Support Anti-Terrorism by Fostering Effective Technologies (SAFETY) Act, featuring expedited clearance to C-TPAT Tier III importers, as well as to the Advanced Qualified Unlading Approval (AQUA) Lane pilot, which has spread to six ports, improving benefits to agricultural programs and improved automation.
\nThe working group is composed of almost 40 people, representing all aspects of the supply chain. It will be made up of six teams consisting of five private-sector representatives, including one from the Commercial Operations Advisory Committee, one from a major trade association and three representatives from C-TPAT Partner companies.
\nThe first round of work begins with teams focusing on agricultural and personnel issues; information technology and cyber security; and non-information security technology. The second round will include groups investigating high-security seals and highway carrier issues; prevention of money laundering and terrorism financing issues; and a review of security management and administration. These two work phases began in May, and the process is expected to continue through early November of this year.
\nThe overall strategy of the teams will be to discuss possible changes to the current criteria, review CBP\u2019s new recommendations and provide any additional criteria or recommendations to include within the topics for each team.
\nRecent terror events in transportation and information technology have resulted in renewed calls for well-meaning, but unworkable, solutions to potential threats \u2013 such as 100 percent scanning of maritime containers. These initiatives do little more than slow commerce and threaten harm to world economies.
\nOne vital lesson learned over the past 15 years is that terrorism is best fought using a multilayered, risk-based approach, where parties take pains to secure their supply chains via safe best practices. These practices should be trusted, allowing for the faster importation of goods, banking activity and commercial transactions. This team of C-TPAT reviewers will hopefully improve the program to offer more concise benefits, an increased understanding of current business realities, and a worthwhile initiative that is ready to deal with new and emerging security threats.
\nSource: aircargoworld<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"