CBP Discusses its Business Resumption Plans at the Trade Symposium
At the December 2009 Trade Symposium, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials discussed CBP's business resumption plans. The purpose of CBP's business resumption planning is to make certain that U.S. borders are secure while ensuring legitimate travelers and trade (particularly urgently required goods) continue to cross without undue delay during and following a disruptive event.
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Highlights from CBP's presentation include:
Most Protocols Complete, Working to Expand, Incorporate Trade Support Groups
CBP states that it has already completed business resumption protocols with the Northern and Southern borders, and joint Maritime Protocols on the expeditious recovery of maritime trade with the U.S. Coast Guard.1
CBP is the in the process of extending these Maritime Protocols to Canada. It next plans to extend them to Mexico and selected international trading partners.
It is also in the process of incorporating Trade Support Groups in all modes, and is participating in a joint U.S.-Canada project on moving goods & people to and away from the border during and following emergencies.
Three-Tier Approach for Prioritizing Cargo, Passengers
CBP states that as part of its business resumption protocols, it has identified a 3-tier approach for prioritizing cargo and travelers:
First - national priority goods and local relief supplies
Second - trusted trade and traveler programs (such as Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) and Free and Secure Trade (FAST) programs)
Third - all other cargo and travelers
Protocols Cover All Hazards, Are Activated by Mutual Decision
According to CBP, its business resumption protocols cover all hazards including pandemics, natural disasters, and increases in security alert levels.
The protocols are activated by mutual decision that an event or incident has the potential to significantly disrupt trade flows or service levels on an area wide or national basis as follows: (i) maritime - CBP and U.S. Coast Guard; (ii) Northern land border - CBP and CBSA; and (iii) Southern land border - CBP and MXC.
CBP Communicates with Trade At Large Via UBRMs
For business resumption purposes, CBP communicates the trade at large is via Unified Business Resumption Message (UBRM). UBRMs are available for the Northern border, Southern border, rail, maritime, and air.
CBP's UBRMs are available via RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feed and ListServ by signing up on CBP's Web site at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/trade_outreach/bus_resumption/.
CBP Has Conducted Three Tabletop Exercises, Plans for Maritime/Land Exercises
CBP uses tabletop exercises to promote preparedness; facilitate discussions between governments and trade; and focus on communication, business resumption, and trade recovery. To date, CBP has conducted three exercises: Detroit, MI (July 2006); Vancouver, BC (April 2007); and San Ysidro, CA (December 2008).
In fiscal year 2010, CBP plans to conduct joint maritime exercises with Canada and land border joint exercises with Mexico.
1The completed protocols are:
Northern border - Joint Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)/CBP Business Resumption Communication and Coordination Plan (signed July 2007)
Maritime - CBP/U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Joint Protocols for the Expeditious Recovery of Trade (signed February 2008).
Southern border - Joint Mexico Customs (MXC)/CBP Business Resumption Communication & Coordination Plan (signed April 2008)
(See ITT's Online Archives or 05/30/08 news, 08053005, for BP summary of CBP official's congressional testimony on CBP's business resumption planning.)
CBP's business resumption planning presentation available at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/trade/trade_outreach/presentations09/brp_present.ctt/brp_present.pdf.