U.S. and EU Agree to Implement Measures to Strengthen Maritime Container Security
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a press release announcing new measures that have been agreed to by the U.S. and European Union (EU) to strengthen the security of maritime container transport.
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According to CBP, these measures were adopted in the framework of the EU-U.S. Joint Customs Co-operation Committee.
CBP further states that they are a result of the implementation of the EU-U.S. Agreement on the Container Security Initiative (CSI) signed in April 2004, and will be followed by further measures aimed at improving security for both the EU and the U.S. (See ITT's Online Archives or 04/26/04 news, 04042610, for BP summary of the April 2004 U.S.-EU agreement on improving container security and expanding CSI.)
Information Exchange Network, Minimum Requirements for European Ports, Etc.
These measures include the creation of an information exchange network, the agreement on minimum requirements applicable for European ports that wish to participate in the U.S.' CSI and identification of best practices concerning security controls of international trade.
CBP Commissioner Bonner noted that as a result of cooperation with the EU and its member states, CSI has already been implemented at 20 European seaports, covering 86% of the outbound cargo containers that move through Europe to U.S. seaports. (See ITT's Online Archives or 11/16/04 news, 04111620, for BP summary of the latest EU port (i.e., Zeebrugge, Belgium) to become CSI operational.)
Pilot Project to Focus on Transshipments and FROB
These measures also include a pilot project that focuses on shipments transiting through both the U.S. and the EU in view of testing the feasibility of exchanging cargo information on transshipments and freight remaining on board (FROB) to enable customs authorities to identify, monitor and assess the risk associated with transshipments.
EU Liaison Officers at CBP's National Targeting Center
At the invitation of the U.S., the EU will post liaison officers at CBP's National Targeting Center (NTC), which CBP states will further improve the exchange of information, the sharing of best practices and the refinement of common risk indicators with regard to the terrorist threat.
Study of Industry Partnership Programs
In view of facilitating legitimate trade while securing the supply chain, CBP states that EU and U.S. experts will study the industry partnership programs applied in the EU and the U.S. The outcome of the study will support further cooperation towards the development of mutually acceptable industry partnership programs, such as the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT).
Joint Group of Experts to Explore Innovative Technology
Recognizing that emerging technologies can promote greater efficiency and can improve security in the international supply chain, CBP states that the U.S. and EU are establishing a joint group of experts to explore innovative developments and their application.
CBP press release (dated 11/16/04) available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/press_releases/11162004.xml
EU press release (IP/04/1360, dated 11/15/04) available at http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/04/1360&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
EU background note available at http://europa.eu.int/comm/taxation_customs/publications/official_doc/IP_04_1360_Background_note.pdf