CBP is Working on 3 Border Pilots for Cargo Pre-Screening, Pre-Inspection
In conjunction with the October 4, 2011 COAC meeting, CBP posted an issue paper which provides an update on land border pre-inspection in Mexico and Canada. According to the issue paper, CBP has identified three possible pilot locations at which to evaluate cargo pre-screening and pre-inspection -- Otay Mesa, CA, Santa Teresa, NM (FOXCONN), and Port Huron, MI.
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Land Border Pre-Inspection Is Action Item for Canada, Mexico Declarations
Land border cargo pre-inspection was identified as one of the action items under the joint U.S. - Canada Beyond the Border declaration announced in February, 2011 as well as the joint U.S. - Mexico declaration by President Obama and President Calderon in May 2010.
“FOXCONN Campus Pilot” Scheduled to Begin Dec 2011 in San Jeronimo
According to the issue paper, CBP Officers will process C-TPAT and FAST approved shipment of computers manufactured in the FOXCONN facility at a primary booth located within the FOXCONN campus in San Jeronimo, Mexico. Shipments cleared on primary will proceed directly through a secure corridor to an exit control booth at the Santa Teresa port of entry. Any shipment requiring additional processing will be inspected at the U.S. port of entry. The target date for the launch of the pilot is December, 2011.
“Cargo Express” Pilot Set for June 2012 in Sarnia
Under the Beyond the Border initiative, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and CBP agreed upon a pre-inspection work plan which includes a U.S. bound “Cargo Express” pilot. Under the cargo express pilot CBP Officers will process FAST/C-TPAT approved shipments at a primary booth located in Sarnia, Ontario Canada. Shipments cleared on primary will proceed directly to an exit control booth in the U.S. at the Port Huron port of entry. Any shipment requiring additional processing will be inspected at the U.S. port of entry. The pilot is on track for a June 2012 start date and will run for 6 months.
Facility Renovations for “NARP Pilot” In Tijuana Scheduled to Begin Oct 15
CBP Officers will process fresh vegetables shipped under the NARP program at a primary booth located in Tijuana, Mexico at the former Pioneer facility. Shipments cleared on primary will proceed directly to an exit control booth in the U.S. through a dedicated entry lane at the Otay Mesa port of entry. Any agriculture shipments requiring mandatory secondary inspection will be inspected in Mexico at this facility. Facility renovations were scheduled to begin October 15, 2011.
(The National Agriculture Release Program (NARP), which began on January 8, 2007, allows high-volume, low-risk fruit and vegetable commodities to qualify for a reduced inspection rate by U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) Agriculture Specialists at U.S. ports of entry. Commodities are subject to periodic analysis to ensure that they continue to meet program requirements over time. NARP press release available here.)
(In October 2010, CBP Commissioner Bersin gave a speech in which he noted that moving some of CBP border processing, including pre-screening and pre-inspection, away from the physical border itself can relieve the congestion that builds the ports of entry. Bersin said that the U.S. needs to push its border out, and with the help of its partners, it would examine establishing secure corridors for the transit of cleared, screened or inspected people and goods. See ITT’s Online Archives 10102910 for BP summary of Bersin speech.
See ITT”s Online Archives 11082612 for summary of the discussion on pre-inspection at the August 2011 COAC meeting.)