ICC TO GOVERNMENTS: TIGHTEN SECURITY WITHOUT SLOWING TRADE DOWN
The International Chamber of Commerce has urged governments not to let tightened security measures slow down the flow of world trade.
Referring in particular to the new rule of U.S. Customs on advanced cargo manifest transmission, the International Chamber of Commerce said that “every effort should be made to implement this rule in a manner that does not create undue burdens, unnecessary costs and delays in the delivery of goods to the U.S.”
In developing new security safeguards, policy makers must be careful not to unnecessarily compromise or undermine the efficiency and reliability of the transportation industry or impose unnecessary costs, the ICC said. Measures should be consistent with the principles of “threat-based risk management and cost-benefit analysis.” Such measures should also clarify the respective liabilities of the different commercial and governmental parties, the ICC added.
The commission on transport and logistics of the Paris-based business organization has issued a policy statement to underline principles that it would like to be followed by governments.
The ICC statement on supply chain security was written “after wide consultation with its members from international transport companies including Volkswagen, UPS and Neptune Orient Lines,” it said.
The ICC’s commission on transport and logistics represents all segments of the international transport industry, including companies using transport services, shippers, carriers, freight forwarders, banks, insurers and business travellers worldwide.
The ICC believes that effective security measures are needed to ensure that the international transportation system is protected from acts of terrorism.
“The global nature of transport requires that appropriate security regulations and standards be achieved through international consultation and consensus,” the business organization said. “Business and government cooperation is essential to define, develop and implement timely and long-range plans for securing cargo and conveyances in international trade.”
ICC will continue to work in cooperation with the World Customs Organization to explore approaches for increasing protection of international borders and strengthening international supply chain security against terrorist attacks and other threats to the system of international trade.
ICC said that international standards and measures should be crafted with regard to maintaining and improving the facilitation and efficiency of the supply chain. Improved facilitation, through risk management, contributes to improved security, for example, by keeping containers in motion, it said. Methods should be developed to enable the identification of higher-risk containers that warrant additional scrutiny, thus facilitating the rapid movement of all other cargo and enhancing overall security.
Commenting on the need for international standards and measures, the ICC warned that there will be counterproductive effects “if companies are faced with many different and conflicting national approaches to improved security.”
The ICC supports:
* Greater consultation among different agencies within governments prior to the introduction of new security measures;
* Promotion of international security standards through such bodies as the WCO, the International Maritime Organization, the International Civil Aviation Organization and the World Trade Organization, so as to result in a consistent global security system;
* Greater consideration of the “known shipper” programs that result in more transparency and the classification of low-, medium-, and high-risk cargoes, without compromising sensitive commercial information; and
* The effective use of information technology, with greater interoperability between countries, to make the supply chain process more secure and more efficient.