Customs Launches New Security Program

WASHINGTON (April 17, 2002) - The U.S. Customs Service officially rolled out its new import inspection program, which now involves just one company and its cargo arriving in the U.S. from Canada.



However, as reported, the agency has big plans for the security effort, launched after the events of Sept. 11, and designed to lessen inspection backups at all borders and ports and ward against terrorist weaponry from being smuggled in U.S.-bound cargo.



Target Corp. and Sara Lee Corp., which helped create the program’s protocol, are in line to participate. The agency also has signed agreements with 60 other importers, but names of participating companies and industries were not made available.



General Motors is the first company to meet the agency’s criteria for the Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism. Crucially, GM has installed the technology to notify Customs when cargo is approaching the Canadian border and what is contained in the shipments.



As a CTPAT-approved importer, GM and its suppliers have agreed to follow an inspection protocol to ensure only cargo gets packed in containers. When shipments approach the Canadian border, GM notifies Customs of an impending arrival and what cargo is on board. Trucks could then be directed to a special lane for faster processing.



“The message should be clear – if business takes steps to secure its cargo against terrorism, we will give it the fast lane through the border,” said U.S. Customs Commissioner Robert Bonner said in a statement, released at a Detroit news conference with Tom Ridge, director of Homeland Security.



Customs officials are also developing a program to put U.S. inspectors at the 10 busiest ports in the world where U.S.-bound cargo is loaded. The commissioner envisions containers being electronically sealed as a sign of being terrorist-free.