WCO ADOPTS RESOLUTION TO IMPROVE GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN SECURITY
The World Customs Organization adopted a resolution late Friday to improve global supply chain security while improving flows of legitimate cargo across borders.
The Brussels-based organization, which represents the customs administrations of 161 nations, developed the resolution to cover all modes of international freight transport. It all also included a number of aspects of the U.S. Customs Cargo Container Security Initiative.
Main provisions of the WCO resolution are:
* Establish an “expert international Task Force” to standardize information needed by customs administrations to identify “high-risk” cargo, while at the same time allowing legitimate trade to move freely.
* Develop new international guidelines to provide advance electronic transmissions of customs data.
*Develop partnerships with the private sector to create global supply chain security strategies.
U.S. Customs’ CSI was initiated in January in response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks against the United States. The concern is that terrorists may use cargo transport to carry out future attacks.
“I am gratified that the World Customs Organization has unanimously adopted a strong resolution that will make the world safer and trade more secure,” said U.S. Customs Commissioner Robert C. Bonner, who attended the WCO meeting last week. “I am pleased that the resolution encourages bilateral projects designed to secure and facilitate trade, such as the U.S. Customs Container Security Initiatives.”
While in Europe, Bonner signed bilateral CSI agreements with the European mega-ports of Rotterdam, Antwerp and Le Havre. A key aspect of these CSI agreements involves the placing of U.S. Customs inspectors at foreign seaports to target and pre-screen U.S.-inbound containers before they’re shipped to the United States.
U.S. Customs is holding discussions with several other countries in Europe and Asia to form additional CSI agreements.