CBP Discusses SFI, Container Security, and its Office of Trade

The purpose of the hearing was to review the Department of Homeland Security's implementation and administration of several port and cargo security programs authorized in the Security and Accountability for Every (SAFE) Port Act, the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002, and the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2004.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Assistant Commissioner of the Office of Field Operations testified at the hearing and discussed a variety of customs-related issues, including the Secure Freight Initiative and 100% scanning; container security standards and procedures; and CBP's new Office of Trade.

Secure freight initiative and 100% scanning. According to CBP, the initial phase of SFI involves the deployment of a combination of existing technology and nuclear detection devices to three ports as per the requirements of the SAFE Port Act, but will also extend, in limited operation, to four additional foreign ports. (See ITT's Online Archives or 10/16/07 news, 07101610, for CBP press release announcing that SFI is fully operational in the Phase One ports of Southhampton, Puerto Cortes, and Port Qasim.)

This first phase will provide lessons learned on how this new, integrated technology can meld smoothly into the logistics, operations, and risk management process while complementing the flow of commerce at each different port. Additionally, this first phase of SFI will provide the partnering governments with a greater window into potentially dangerous shipments moving through their seaports. SFI will use the latest scanning technology; however, data analysis using the Automated Targeting System (ATS) will continue to be its primarily method in screening containers.

DHS will submit reports to Congress in February and April 2008 detailing the progress made under SFI. These reports will also outline the successes and challenges associated with the implementation of 100% scanning in foreign locations, including issues related to the availability, capabilities and efficiency of technology and equipment; the process of negotiations/discussions with host nation counterparts as well as foreign input and feedback; the impact on the movement of cargo through ports and across the global supply chain; the staffing and human capital requirements that will be necessary both abroad and domestically and numerous additional considerations.

Office of Trade

CBP also testified regarding its newly created Office of Trade, noting that in order to meet the requirements of the SAFE Port Act, in June 2007 it provided to Congress a resource optimization model for the commercial operations and revenue function. The model was designed to determine the right number and right mix of resources to facilitate legitimate trade while enforcing trade laws.

(See ITT's Online Archives or 08/28/07 news, 07082810, for BP summary on CBP's update on the recent activities of the Office of Trade, including the submission of a resource allocation model to Congress, which was discussed at the August 2007 COAC meeting.)

Container Security Standards and Procedures

CBP states that while it does not believe, at the present time, the necessary technology exists to significantly improve container security without significantly disrupting the flow of legitimate commerce, it is working closely with DHS and is actively working with industry to test different technologies and methodologies that would provide economically and operationally viable enhancements to container security.

(CBP notes that minimum security criteria for participants in the C-TPAT program include a requirement that all C-TPAT importers affix a high security seal to all loaded containers bound for the U.S. which meets or exceeds the current ISO/PAS 17712 specifications for high security seals.)

(See ITT's Online Archives or 10/10/07, 10/12/07, and 10/15/07 news, 07101005, 07101205, and 07101505, for BP summaries of the C-TPAT, in-bond, 10 2, ATS, and radiation detection aspects of CBP's testimony.)

CBP written hearing statement (dated 10/04/07) available at http://commerce.senate.gov/public/_files/CBPSenateCommerceWrittenStatement100407000.pdf.