Highlights from CBP's September 2005 Trade Support Network Plenary Session Notes (Part I)

See ITT's Online Archives or 10/12/05 news, 05101205, for BP summary of the other September 2005 TSN meeting information posted by CBP to its Web site.)

This is Part I of a multi-part series of summaries on these TSN Plenary session notes and highlights CBP's answers to questions posed by the TSN during the September 28, 2005 session.

Highlights from CBP Commissioner Bonner's Opening Address

C-TPAT.In his opening address, CBP Commissioner Bonner noted that CBP has increased the number of CBP supply chain security specialists for Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) by over 100%. Commissioner Bonner also noted that CBP has made C-TPAT status part of its planning for a contingency response in the event of a terrorist attack.

Radiation portal monitors at U.S. border crossings. According to Commissioner Bonner, over 600 radiation sensitive portal monitors will be deployed by the end of 2005 to all major land border crossings from California to Mexico.

Smart boxes and the green lane. Commissioner Bonner stated that CBP has lessons learned on how to create a smarter container and it is getting closer to finding a security device with an acceptable low level of false positives. According to the Commissioner, when CBP does, it will have the green lane for C-TPAT certified validated tier 3 participants. Bonner notes that in the past he has stated that the three requirements for participants to qualify for the green lane are: (1) the importer should be a C-TPAT valid partner; (2) the shipment should come through a Container Security Initiative (CSI) port; and (3) the cargo should go through a secure container device. Commissioner Bonner states that CBP hopes to have the green lane in place the by the end of 2005. Bonner further stated that shipments meeting green lane criteria will have green lane benefits - zero inspections except for the occasional random inspection.

Data and targeting.The Commissioner notes that CBP has made significant progress to identify the information it needs to perform better targeting and hopes in the future to complete its analysis of "what" the data is that is critical to CBP's targeting systems. According to the Commissioner, CBP will not require full entry data in advance of arrival and that anything that it implements will have a phased implementation. Bonner assured the TSN that CBP will not implement anything that will have a negative impact on the trade.

Periodic monthly statement. Since CBP's collection of duties and fees through Periodic Monthly Statement (PMS) has fallen short of its goal, CBP is taking steps to increase participation by, among other things, sending letters to Chief Financial Officers of top duty payers encouraging them to participate in PMS. Bonner states that one day, CBP envisions PMS as being a requirement.

Highlights of Remarks by Other CBP Officials

Truck eManifest. Truck eManifest allows for faster processing of trucks and as of the time of the TSN plenary session over 400,000 trucks had been processed since the initial deployment in Blaine. CBP noted that eventually it will mandate eManifest for trucks. According to CBP, the next step will be in Release 6 with MMM Advanced electronic information that will link rail, sea, and air.

In response to a question as to whether the current policy for the Automated Manifest System (AMS) requires every carrier to be certified, CBP officials stated that CBP's initial policy required a new carrier using a service provider to test and be certified. CBP notes that later on, it revised the policy and that CBP does not require that the carrier test in all situations.

CBP's TSN plenary session notes available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/about/modernization/trade_support_network/sep2005_meet_highlights/notes/.