On June 28, 2008, the U.S. and Canada signed a mutual recognition arrangement agreeing to mutual standards for Canada's Partners in Protection (PIP) and the U.S.' Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) programs.
On June 28, 2008, the U.S. and Jordan signed a mutual recognition arrangement agreeing to mutual standards for Jordan's Golden List Program (GLP) and the U.S.' Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) program.
President Bush has issued a proclamation lifting the application of the Trading with the Enemy Act (TWEA) with respect to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea), and notified Congress of his intent to rescind North Korea's designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism. These actions were taken following North Korea's submission of a declaration of its nuclear programs, which will now be subject to verification.
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee has posted the public version of U.S. Customs and Border Protection's report to Congress on its 18-month Secure Freight Initiative (SFI) International Container Security (100% scanning) pilot program1.
According to UAEInteract, global marine terminal operator DP World has been certified as a partner in U.S. Customs and Border Protection's C-TPAT (Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism) Program - the only international port operator to have achieved such recognition. (UAEInteract, dated 06/11/08, available at http://www.uaeinteract.com/docs/DP_World_joins_US_Security_Initiative_C-TPAT/30561.htm)
On May 7, 2008, the House Homeland Security Committee's Border, Maritime, and Global Counterterrorism and Management, Investigations, and Oversight subcommittees held a hearing on "Assessing the Resiliency of the Nation's Supply Chain."
The Canada Border Services Agency has posted a revised version of its Memorandum of Understanding for its Partners in Protection (PIP) program.
At the request of various Congressional committees, the Government Accountability Office has issued a report entitled "Supply Chain Security: U.S. Customs and Border Protection Has Enhanced its Partnership With Import Trade Sectors, but Challenges Remain in Verifying Security Practices."
During the May 9, 2008 meeting of the Departmental Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Related Homeland Security Functions (COAC), CBP officials discussed a variety of issues related to customs bonds, highlights of which include:
During the May 9, 2008 meeting of the Departmental Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Related Homeland Security Functions (COAC)1, CBP officials discussed a variety of issued related to the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) program, highlights of which include: