CBP Posts Its C-TPAT "Year in Review" for 2008

(C-TPAT is a voluntary government-business initiative to build cooperative relationships that strengthen and improve overall international supply chain and U.S. border security. Through C-TPAT, CBP asks businesses to ensure the integrity of their security practices and communicate and verify the security guidelines of their business partners within the supply chain.

To date, CBP has issued minimum-security criteria for: importers, customs brokers, third party logistics providers (3PLs), U.S. and foreign-based marine port authority and terminal operators, Mexican long haul highway carriers, air carriers, rail carriers, foreign manufacturers, U.S./Canada and U.S./Mexico highway carriers, and sea carriers.)

The following are highlights of C-TPAT accomplishments during 2008:

Concluded two Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRAs), with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the Jordanian Customs Service. Laid the foundation for additional MRAs with similar programs in other countries further internationalizing C-TPAT cargo security standards.¹

Conducted first ever joint validation exercises with the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GAC), resulting in 18 validations of C-TPAT members' supply chains originating in China.²

Certified 1,448 new members and validated 3,469 supply chains in 2008. Since 2003, C-TPAT has performed over 8,149 total initial validations and over 2,218 revalidations.

Created a new enrollment sector for 3PLs involved in the international movement of cargo and started taking applications as of January 2009.³

Concluded a pilot to assess the feasibility of having third party entities gather validation information on CBP's behalf to determine compliance with program criteria.⁴

Issued "A Guide to Partner Benefits" illustrating how C-TPAT companies realize lower examination rates compared to non-members as well as providing an explanation of the additional benefits of C-TPAT membership.

Conducted 391 actions to ensure adherence to the program's requirements as follows:

• Suspended 121 members, of which 49 were suspended as a result of an incident such as a seizure at a port of entry and 72 were suspended as a result of a C-TPAT validation.
• Removed a total of 118 C-TPAT partners, of which 62 were removed because of a serious security incident and 56 were removed as a result of a validation due to issues such as providing false statement or failing to show commitment to the program.
• Conducted 40 Post Incident Analysis to identify root causes of security breaches and developed corrective action plans.
• Adjudicated 52 appeals of which 26 were denied; 18 were approved and the partner was re-instated into the program; and eight received shortened suspensions.

¹See ITT's Online Archives or 07/02/08 news, 08070215, for BP summary of the U.S. and Canada signing a MRA between C-TPAT and Canada's Partners in Protection (PIP) program. See ITT's Online Archives or 07/01/08 news, 08070110, for BP summary of U.S. and Jordan signing a MRA between Jordan's Golden List Program (GLP) and C-TPAT.

²See ITT's Online Archives or 11/19/08 news, 08111935 1, for BP summary of CBP concluding its second round of joint C-TPAT validations in China.

³See ITT's Online Archives or 10/02/08 news, 08100205, for BP summary of CBP extending C-TPAT to 3PLs.

⁴See ITT's Online Archives or 08/29/08 news, 08082900, for BP summary of CBP concluding its third party validation pilot.

(See ITT's Online Archives or 01/30/09 news, 09013035 5, for previous BP summary of the 2008 C-TPAT review.

See ITT's Online Archives or 12/01/08 news, 08120140, for BP summary of CBP's 2008 fiscal year in review, which covers C-TPAT, etc.

See ITT's Online Archives or 08/21/08 news, 08082120, for BP summary of CBP officials discussing C-TPAT mutual recognition at the August 2008 COAC meeting.)

C-TPAT "year in review" (posted 01/27/09) available at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/trade/cargo_security/ctpat/2008_year_review.ctt/2008_year_review.pdf

CBP press release on the "year in review" (dated 01/12/09) available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/01122009.xml