This anti-terror partnership seeks to safeguard the world’s vibrant trade industry from terrorists, maintaining the economic health of the United States and its neighbors. The partnership develops and adopts security measures that add security but do not have a chilling effect on trade, a difficult balancing act. The Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism is seen as the largest and most successful government-private sector partnership to emerge from 9/11.

Begun in November 2001 with just seven major importers as members, the partnership has grown as more than 10,000 companies have applied to become members, and more than 5,600 companies have been certified as having met and implemented security criteria. These companies include U.S. importers, customs brokers, terminal operators, carriers and foreign manufacturers.

“As the C-TPAT program matures, its benefits are increasingly apparent,” said Todd Owen, acting executive director for cargo and security conveyance for CBP. “This partnership has gone a long way in ensuring the security of global trade, but it has also forged a bond with our trade partners fostering cooperation and trust that will serve the entire international customs community.”

The guiding principles have been voluntary participation and jointly developed security criteria and implementation procedures. Partners have worked with CBP to protect their supply chains from infiltration and concealment of terrorist weapons, including weapons of mass destruction. In exchange, CBP provides reduced inspections at the port of arrival and expedited processing at the border.

Zone of security
By extending the United States’ zone of security to the point of origin, the customs-trade partnership allows for better risk assessment and targeting, freeing CBP to allocate inspectional resources to more questionable shipments.

The partnership establishes clear supply chain security criteria for members to meet and in return provides incentives and benefits like expedited processing. A corollary is to extend the partnership anti-terrorism principles globally through cooperation and coordination with the international community. The recently enacted World Customs Organization Framework of Standards to Secure and Facilitate Global Trade compliments and globalizes CBP’s and the partnership’s cargo security efforts.

CBP designates partnership members as qualifying as low-risk and therefore less likely to be examined. This designation is based on a company's past compliance history, security profile and the validation of a sample international supply chain. Partnership program representatives conduct domestic and foreign site visits to physically review companies' security practices and determine weaknesses along their international supply chains.

In joining the anti-terror partnership, companies sign an agreement to work with CBP to protect the supply chain, identify security gaps and implement specific security measures and best practices. Additionally, partners provide CBP with a security profile outlining the specific security measures the company has in place. Applicants must address a broad range of security topics and present security profiles that list action plans to align security throughout their supply chain.

The customs-trade partnership during 2005 entered a new era with the publication of more stringent "Security Criteria for Importers." The new criteria were developed in close consultation with members of the trade, such as the Departmental Advisory Committee for Commercial Operations of Customs and Border Protection and leading trade associations. These new requirements reflect the successful practices that have emerged from three years of importer experience with the program.

Strict requirements
Effective March 25, 2005 importers in the program and those joining must do everything they can to see that their foreign business partners develop and document supply-chain security measures that are consistent with partnership requirements. Containers must be stored, protected and inspected to ensure their security from outside tampering. They must be sealed using devices that meet the highest mechanical standards of the International Organization for Standardization. Importers' own premises and employees have their own security checklist, including facility physical security and background checks on employees.

CBP gave importers already in the program a phased implementation plan from the effective date of the new guidelines. Members had a 60-day timeframe to harden the security of their physical supply chains. That includes meeting container security requirements, and improving premises security through lighting, fencing and access controls. By August 2005, importers had to have reviewed internal supply chain management factors such as personnel security, including practices such as pre-employment background checks.

By October 2005, existing member importers should have completed verification that their foreign partners are following partnership guidelines, or an equivalent security program operated by their home governments. “Concrete standards have already been developed for sea and highway carriers and we are evaluating comments, said Todd Owen, director of the partnership program for CBP. “We will then move to the other enrollment sectors such as air, rail and brokers. CBP’s goal is to have all of the standards complete by the end of this calendar year.”

Making sure that members meet the obligations and standards established under the program is essential, and CBP reviews member’s security practices and procedures on a regular basis. Members must provide CBP with a periodic review of their company’s security practices and procedures, both enacted and proposed. Supply chain specialists are responsible for coordinating the submission and execution of these periodic self-assessments and for conducting validation inspections.

In the past, increased trade security was thought to be a hindrance to trade. However, the success of the partnership demonstrates that increased security can lead to a more efficient and cost effective flow of trade.