see also: in April 2003:   CBP Inspectors Seize Marijuana Load Valued at Over $3 Million at Blaine, WA, Port of Entry   Cache of Narcotics, Undocumented Aliens Interdicted Near Beach $30,000,000 of cocaine, 25 undocumented aliens interdicted in two separate landings (pdf - 96 KB.)   "Crazy Joe" Nominated for "Paws to Recognize - A Salute to Canine World Heroes"   Murder Suspect Arrested by Border Patrol Agents discover victim’s body hours after arrest (pdf - 99 KB.)   Border Patrol Alerts Community of Smuggling Tactics (pdf - 15 KB.)   Binational Safety Initiative Gains Momentum U.S. and Mexico Combine Efforts to Make Borders Safe (pdf - 13 KB.)   CBP Inspectors in Laredo Seize 5,090 Pounds of Marijuana ...more on cbp.gov:   Press Officers   CBP News Releases   C-TPAT: Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism   CSI: Container Security Initiative

contacts for this news release

WASHINGTON, D.C.--United States and Canadian customs agencies and Canada's two major railways today announced they have signed a declaration of principles to further enhance security at the Canada-U.S. border and to ensure secure rail access to the U.S.

The joint government-industry initiative is the culmination of several months of discussion about ways to enhance the security of U.S.-bound rail shipments while ensuring trade continues to flow between the two countries. These discussions were part of the larger process of implementing the Smart Border Declaration adopted by Canada and the United States in December 2001.

The declaration of principles, signed by the U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Canada Customs and Revenue Agency (CCRA), Canadian National Railway (CN) and Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR), outlines the principles for targeting, screening and examining rail shipments transported by the two Canadian carriers into the United States from Canada. It includes guidelines for collecting advanced electronic manifest information and installing imaging and radiation detection equipment at seven CN and CPR border crossings.

"The signing of the declaration of principles shows how the government and the private sector can work in partnership to build a smarter border by enhancing security and facilitating trade," said Robert C. Bonner, Commissioner of the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection. "The rail security program we have developed is a vital component of our strategy to keep America and the American people safe, as well as to facilitate the flow of trade between Canada and the United States."

"The operating procedures which underpin this agreement will stress the importance of focusing enforcement efforts on high-risk containers, and that is clearly one of the key principles of the Smart Border Declaration," said Rob Wright, Commissioner of the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency.

E. Hunter Harrison, President and Chief Executive Officer of CN, said, "CN is a North American company with significant interests in both Canada and the United States. We believe this agreement will strengthen existing border security while assuring an orderly flow of goods between the two countries - a flow that is vital to both Canada and the U.S."

"We strongly support the efforts of both governments to maintain a secure border in the face of potential terrorist threats," said Rob Ritchie, CPR-s President and Chief Executive Officer. "The Canada-U.S. trade partnership is the biggest in the world. We believe the best way to keep our goods flowing smoothly across the border is to provide a strong, secure rail service."

In addition to the efforts related to the declaration of principles, CN and CPR have both secured accreditation under CBP's Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) program. C-TPAT is a joint government-business initiative designed to build cooperative relationships that strengthen overall supply chain and border security.

The railways and Customs officials are already working to implement the measures outlined in the declaration of principles, and expect this work will be completed over the next several months.