RAILROADS, CUSTOMS AGENCIES COORDINATE NORTHERN BORDER SECURITY
Canadian and U.S. customs agencies and Canada's two major railroads have agreed on common security procedures for rail shipments entering the United States.
A declaration of principles outlines general goals for targeting, screening and examining rail shipments by Canadian National and Canadian Pacific Railway. It includes guidelines for collecting advance electronic manifest information and installing imaging and radiation detection equipment at seven railroad crossings. The railways and customs officials said the measures would be implemented this year.
It is unclear whether the guidelines will be updated or superceded once the U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection issues regulations late this year on advance manifest filing for imports.
Canadian National and Canadian Pacific Railway have both been certified under CBP's Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism program for meeting recommended security standards.
CP also has been designated a low-risk carrier by Canada's Customs and Revenue Agency. Under the low-risk designation, importers file monthly summaries on their shipments to customs officials rather than a report on each shipment and receive expedited clearance at border checkpoints.