CBP Commissioner Met with Trade Groups on Air Cargo Security, C-TPAT, Etc.

Bersin First Met with Air Cargo Industry to Discuss Security After Yemen Plot

Bersin began the day by meeting with association executives from the air cargo industry. It was the second time the group had met with the Commissioner since two suspicious packages containing explosive materials had been found on air cargo carriers bound for the U.S. from Yemen last October. During the group’s first meeting, held in November, it had been agreed that CBP would work with the industry to identify the best approach for addressing risks at the earliest possible point in the air cargo supply chain and to apply the highest level of security to passenger aircraft.

Air Couriers in Advance Data Screening Pilot Praise Cooperation with CBP

Michael Mullen, the Executive Director of the Express Association of America, whose membership is comprised of express courier firms, said that the cooperation with the CBP team has been great. There’s been a real dedication to finding the right solutions for both sides. Mullen was referring to an air cargo advance screening pilot program that is currently underway with four of the large express courier companies. Two of the companies are participating in the pilot project now and the other two should be up and running in the very near future.

The goal of the program is to obtain advance information about cargo shipments so that CBP and the Transportation Security Administration can identify potential threats at the very earliest point in the supply chain. The pilot program will later be expanded to include air cargo transported on passenger aircraft and then all commercial cargo carriers.

CBP May Need to Develop More Models for Providing Advance Information

Mullen also noted that the entire air cargo industry may not be able to provide advance information in exactly the same way. He said that there should be at least three models: one that fits the express business model, one for standard air cargo, and a third one for cargo on passenger planes.

(In December 2010, CBP and TSA announced that they were starting an express operator and a freight forwarder pilot program to explore getting air cargo data sooner. See ITT's Online Archives or 12/17/10 news, 10121729, for BP summary.)

IATA Says CBP Should Apply Expertise Acquired from Maritime Programs to Air Security

Another participant at the meeting suggested that it would be helpful if CBP could apply the expertise it has acquired from maritime programs. CBP has a history of working with foreign governments and supply chain networks with its container security initiatives, said Michael White, coordinator of the customs senior advisory group for the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which represents 230 global airlines. CBP has network of contacts in place on the maritime side that could be of some assistance to the air side.

Bersin Also Met with Other Organizations to Discuss New Developments for ACE, C-TPAT, Etc.

Bersin also met with three other organizations -- the National Association of Manufacturers, the Association of Floral Importers of Florida, and the American Trucking Association. Some of the issues that were discussed at the meetings include new developments on several CBP initiatives such as ACE, Management by Account, and Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT). Additionally, participants discussed the U.S. agricultural inspection process, CBP’s communication with other federal government agencies, and a joint announcement made that day by President Obama and Prime Minister Harper of Canada regarding perimeter security and economic competitiveness between the U.S. and Canada.

(See ITT’s Online Archives or 12/06/10 news, 10120622, for most recent BP summary of CBP and TSA plans to accelerate work on air cargo advance data.)