CBP Commissioner Discusses Cargo Security Strategy at Recent DHS Summit

Primary objective is prevention of shipments of WMD and WME into the U.S. Bonner states that the primary objective for a cargo security strategy for homeland security has been and should continue to be the prevention of the shipment of terrorist weapons - and particularly Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) and Weapons of Mass Effect (WME) into the U.S. by any transportation mode or conveyance.

In describing what has been done so far to develop and implement an international cargo security strategy, Bonner notes that he had two important realizations after September 11, 2001:

that on September 11, 2001, Customs became a national security agency; and

that the priority mission of preventing terrorist weapons from getting into the U.S. or being detonated in the U.S. and preventing terrorist operatives from getting into the U.S. would need to be carried out without choking off the flow of legitimate cargo and shutting down the U.S. economy.

Commissioner's personal views on goals/objectives to complete international cargo security strategy. Bonner stated that to complete a strategy to secure international cargo, there are several additional goals or objectives. According to Bonner, in his personal view, these goals or objectives are as follows (partial list):

Smarter, more secure containers should be implemented. A more secure, smarter container - the "Smart Box" - should be implemented as soon as there is the technology to do so;

CSI should be expanded. Container Security Initiative (CSI) should be expanded to cover over 95% of the volume of containers from ports through which the enemy could attempt to move a container loaded with a WMD or WME. Bonner notes that there are now 33 CSI ports, covering over 70% of container movement to the U.S. from areas of concern and states that he believes that the U.S. can be where it needs to be with another 20 or so ports, particularly ports ringing the areas of the world where al Qaeda has any kind of presence.

C-TPAT should be improved. Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) should be improved by (i) defining the point of stuffing security criteria for C-TPAT, particularly for C-TPAT importers and their vendors, and foreign manufacturers; and (ii) increased validation, to assure that security commitments by C-TPAT partners are being met.

Advance information should be expanded. The advance information available to CBP and CBP's National Targeting Center should be expanded to better identify high-risk cargo. Bonner notes that CBP has what it calls its "Advance Trade Data Initiative" that provides electronic information to CBP even further back into the supply chain than the 24-Hour Rule, to point of origin, and information that more accurately identifies the real parties of interest. According to Bonner, this allows CBP to better assess and identify high-risk shipments and conduct fewer cargo inspections.

"Continuity of Trade" plan needed. A "continuity of trade" plan is needed. Bonner notes that CBP and the Coast Guard are developing a contingency plan to restore inbound trade to the U.S. as quickly as possible if a decision is made - based on a terrorist incident involving the movement of cargo - to deny permission to unlade at U.S. seaports, deny vessels the ability to enter U.S. seaports or halt commercial trucks across the land borders.

Should be one window into U.S. government for all trade data. There needs to be one window into the U.S. government for all trade data, and that data needs to be shared with key DHS agencies. This single window, in Bonner's view, is CBP's Automated Commercial Environment (ACE), which is available to other government agencies, like the Coast Guard, through ACE's International Trade Data System (ITDS) link.

Ridge Discusses "Draft" National Cargo Security Strategy, Etc.

In his remarks at this same cargo security summit, Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge discussed efforts to refine and finalize a National Cargo Security Strategy. According to Ridge's remarks, DHS has put together a "draft" national cargo security strategy document and asked summit attendees to vent, modify, and alter that strategy. BP is trying to obtain a copy of DHS' draft cargo security strategy document and will update subscribers on its availability as additional information is available.

Bonner's remarks (dated 12/17/04) available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/commissioner/speeches_statements/12222004.xml.

Ridge's remarks (dated 12/16/04) available at http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?content=4222.