The Government Accountability Office has issued its report to congressional requestors entitled "Supply Chain Security: CBP Works with International Entities to Promote Global Customs Security Standards and Initiatives, but Challenges Remain," which details U.S. Customs and Border Protection's efforts related to international customs security standards.
During the August 7, 2008 meeting of the Departmental Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Related Homeland Security Functions (COAC), CBP officials discussed various issues related to CBP's Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) program, highlights of which are provided below:
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a notice and press releases announcing that it will hold its 9th annual Trade Symposium on October 29-31, 2008 at the JW Marriott in Washington, DC.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a statement regarding the status of the Secure Freight Initiative 100% scanning pilot it had planned in Singapore. CBP states that it has been working with several foreign ports to assess the feasibility and challenges of 100% security scanning of containers under the SFI pilot1.
During the August 7, 2008 meeting of the Departmental Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Related Homeland Security Functions (COAC), CBP officials discussed a variety of issues related to Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT), including progress that has been made toward achieving mutual recognition between CBP's C-TPAT program and other countries' supply chain security programs.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a notice announcing that the next meeting of the Departmental Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Related Homeland Security Functions (COAC) 1 will be held on August 7, 2008 in Seattle, WA.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted a notice entitled Notice of Examination: October 2008 Customs Broker License Examination, which announces that the next customs broker license exam will be held on Monday, October 6, 2008.
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.