ShippersNewsWire reports that DHS official Elaine Dezenski said in remarks to a November 9, 2004 Homeland Defense Journal conference that it will take another three years before electronic surveillance technology will be reliable enough for DHS to endorse the limited deployment of a container security device (CSD) for inbound ocean containers, and five years for universal deployment on the millions of containers in the system.
Press sources recently reported that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) had circulated an initial draft of new Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) security standards for importers among select importers for comment. Press reports had also indicated that CBP was expected to issue a second draft of the new C-TPAT security standards for importers within a week and hoped to issue final standards by early December 2004.
COAC Subcommittee's Report to DHS on Performance Standards for a "Smart" Shipment Concept (Part III)
During the September 10, 2004 meeting of the Departmental Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of Customs and Border Protection and Related Homeland Security Functions (COAC), the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) Implementation Subcommittee1 outlined its recommendations regarding the MTSA requirement that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) establish " a program to evaluate and certify secure systems of international intermodal transportation."
The Journal of Commerce Online reports that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a set of draft standards for ocean carriers in the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT). According to the article, the draft follows similar standards for importers that CBP issued during the week of October 25, 2004. (JoC Online dated 10/29/04. www.joc.com.)
The Journal of Commerce Online reports that non-vessel operating common carriers (NVOCCs) will be able to enter into confidential contracts with customers under new rules that the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) proposed on October 27, 2004. The proposal is in response to eight petitioners' seeking relief from the restrictions of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act (OSRA) that reserve service contracts for vessel operators and require NVOCCs to maintain tariffs with the FMC. (See ITT's Online Archives or 10/18/04 news, 04101810, for BP summary on the announcement of the FMC's October 27, 2004 meeting.)(JoC Online dated 10/27/04, www.joc.com.)
On October 18, 2004, President Bush signed into law the conference version of H.R. 4567, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2005 (Public Law (P.L.) 108-334).
Shippers NewsWire reports that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials have stated that Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) is evolving from a purely voluntary program in which industry adopts recommended supply chain practices to one in which participation will be based on minimum security standards. DHS sources also noted that C-TPAT will transition to a "universal requirement for the whole industry." According to the article, some Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials are indicating that the new C-TPAT rules could be implemented within 30 days. (Shippers NewsWire dated 10/19/04, www.americanshipper.com)
On September 21, 2004, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Bonner addressed the first Customs World Summit for World Customs Leaders in London on a strategy to increase security and facilitation of global trade.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site a notice announcing the 2004/2005 aggregate cap for apparel made from Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act (ATPDEA) fabric, fabric components, or components knit-to-shape, etc. from ATPDEA/U.S. yarns (HTS 9821.11.25). (See today's ITT, 04092715, for BP summary of CITA's notice announcing this aggregate cap.) (QBT-04-541, dated 09/22/04, available at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/import/textiles_and_quotas/qbts/QBT2004/2004_541.ctt/2004_541.doc)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has announced that on September 14, 2004, CBP Commissioner Bonner was presented with the Maritime Security Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his proposing such programs as the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT), the Container Security Initiative (CSI), etc. (CBP press release, dated 09/14/04, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/press_releases/09142004.xml)