International Trade Law News

Published by Jacobson Burton Kelley PLLC

As we previously reported, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently announced the creation of a new C-TPAT Internet Application and Communications Portal. The mandatory C-TPAT Security Link Portal, which should be going live in the very near future, is intended to improve the processing and communication for all C-TPAT participants.

CBP has for the first time recently revealed the capabilities of the Portal in a PowerPoint presentation posted on its website. The PowerPoint presentation contains several screenshots of the features of the C-TPAT Security Link Portal as well as accompanying explanatory information. The following is a summary of some of the key aspects of the Portal revealed in the PowerPoint presentation:

• At least one company officer must be designated as a company contact.

• Consultants or contractors may not be designated as the primary point of contact for the C-TPAT participant.

• The C-TPAT Supply Chain Security Profile will be required to be maintained in a structured template format found in the Security Profile section of the Portal. The template contains a text box where a narrative description of each security procedure must be provided. Back-up documentation can be uploaded into the system using the Document Exchange function of the Portal.

• Each C-TPAT participant must certify the accuracy of their Supply Chain Security Profile on an annual basis.

• The Portal contains a C-TPAT Public Document Library Area where C-TPAT personnel can post documents for all participants to view or download. This area can also be used for CBP to disseminate information to all C-TPAT participants, such as security bulletins, conference information notices, etc.

• A C-TPAT Program Supply Chain Security Discussion Board Public Area is included in the Portal so that C-TPAT program personnel can post discussion items for all participants to view.

• The Portal includes a private messaging area where C-TPAT participants can send and receive messages directly to and from C-TPAT Supply Chain Security Specialists.

Labels: Customs