U.S. and E.U. Adopt Measures to Strengthen Security of Maritime Container Transport
On November 16, 2004, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Robert C. Bonner announced new measures that have been agreed to by the E.U. and the U.S. to strengthen the security of maritime container transport.
The measures will facilitate legitimate trade through mutually acceptable security standards and industry partnership programs. The measures have been adopted in the framework of the signed agreement to extend the E.U./U.S. Customs Agreement to include trade security co-operation.
Among the measures being adopted are: the creation of an information exchange network; the agreement on minimum requirements applicable for European ports that wish to participate in the U.S. Container Security Initiative (CSI); identification of best practices concerning security controls of international trade. The measures also include a pilot project that focuses on shipments transiting through both the U.S. and the E.U. in view of testing the feasibility of exchanging cargo information on transshipments and freight remaining on board to enable customs authorities to identify, monitor and assess the risk associated with transshipments.
At the invitation of the U.S., the E.U. will post liaison officers at the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) National Targeting Center, which will further improve the exchange of information, the sharing of best practices and the refinement of common risk indicators with regard to terrorist threats.
In view of facilitating legitimate trade while securing the supply chain, E.U. and U.S. experts will study the industry partnership programs applied in the E.U. and the U.S. The outcome of the study will support further cooperation towards the development of mutually acceptable industry partnership programs, such as the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT).
Recognizing that emerging technologies can promote greater efficiency and can improve security in the international supply chain, the U.S. and the E.U. are establishing a joint group of experts to explore innovative developments and their application.
These measures are a result of the implementation of the E.U.-U.S. Agreement on CSI signed in April 2004 and will be followed by further measures aimed at improving security for both the E.U. and the U.S.
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