NIT League surveys trade about C-TPAT
The National Industrial Transportation League is sponsoring a survey to get feedback from importers and their service providers about the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism, a voluntary Customs and Border Protection supply chain security program that promises reduced cargo inspections for companies that take steps to secure shipments and do business with suppliers who follow similar standards.
More than 10,000 companies have signed up to participate in the program, with a somewhat smaller number provisionally accepted by CBP.
The survey contains 21 questions designed to ascertain the perceived benefits and costs of implementing an extensive cargo security protocol and possible improvements to the program.
CBP is in the process of designing methodology to gauge the performance of the program and the extent to which C-TPAT members and non-participants comply with trade and security rules.
More than a year ago the American Association of Exporters and Importers abandoned a similar effort, because it discovered the survey sample was not representative enough to accurately classify and quantify responses in a way that provided value to CBP. Respondents to the online survey were predominantly from one industry sector, thus skewing the results.
AAEI was concerned about reports that C-TPAT importers were still experiencing cargo delays at ports of entry despite their low-risk status. Organization officials had hoped the survey would identify systemic problems that CBP could fix at the national level.
The NIT League is conducting the survey in conjunction with the Lyndon Baines Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas and the Congressional Research Service. The trade association, which represents shippers and carriers, said it will protect the confidentiality of individual responses
To respond to the survey, go to http://survey.lbjlivewire.com/index.php’sid=3 .