CBP Updates COAC on the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism
The Departmental Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Related Functions (COAC) held its quarterly meeting on May 5, 2005 in Washington, DC during which U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials provided an update on the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT).
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This is Part I of a multi-part series of summaries on the May 5, 2005 COAC meeting and focuses on the C-TPAT issues discussed at the meeting. (See future issues for additional summaries.)
Additional details on three tiers of C-TPAT benefits, including "green lane," expected in 1-2 months. CBP sources states that they expect to make additional details on the three tiers of C-TPAT benefits available in 30-60 days.
(In an April 2005 speech, CBP Commissioner Bonner discussed his vision for a three-tiered system of C-TPAT benefits, for certified (Tier 1), certified and validated (Tier 2), and certified, validated, and C-TPAT best practices (Tier 3, "Green Lane") C-TPAT members. See ITT's Online Archives or 04/27/05 news, 05042710, for BP summary.)
Third-party verifications not envisioned. Although CBP sources told COAC that CBP did not envision using third parties for C-TPAT verifications, one DHS source noted that the agency had an "open mind" on the issue.
CBP has enough staff, funding, to complete timely C-TPAT validations. When questioned as to whether they had enough resources to complete the necessary C-TPAT validations, CBP sources stated that they did have sufficient staff and funding to complete timely validation of C-TPAT members.
(Recent press reports indicate that CBP has completed validations for 564 of the 9,234 C-TPAT members.)
C-TPAT online registration process. CBP notes that the new online C-TPAT registration process for importers is working well and that they hope to start moving the C-TPAT registration process for other participants online (e.g., carriers, brokers, etc.) as soon as possible.
(In March 2004, CBP posted to its Web site a C-TPAT online application for importers. See ITT's Online Archives or 03/25/05 news, 05032505, for BP summary.)
Next C-TPAT seminar is expected to be February 2006 in Los Angeles. CBP sources noted that the recent (April 2005) C-TPAT seminar held in Miami was very successful and that the next C-TPAT seminar is tentatively scheduled for February 2006 in Los Angeles, CA.