U.S., Canada align shipper security programs

Canada became the third country to align its supply chain security program with the U.S. Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism when both sides signed an agreement Saturday mutually recognizing each other's standards for vetting cross-border shippers.

The agreement acknowledges that the validation procedures for Canada's Partners in Protection program meet C-TPAT standards. It was singed by Alain Jolicoeur, head of the Canada Border Services Agency, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Ralph Basham at the conclusion of the World Customs Organization's annual conclave in Brussels, Belgium. Basham signed a similar cooperation deal with Jordan during his visit.

Each government has implemented supply chain security programs conferring expedited customs clearance and other trade facilitation benefits on companies that voluntarily implement operational and shipment security controls that meet approved guidelines. Mutual recognition implies that the customs agencies on a bilateral basis will share information about domestic companies that have been audited for their security procedures so their shipments are given the same fast lane for security clearance in the destination country as a shipments from a domestic importer.

Canadian, Jordanian and U.S. customs must still work out procedures for granting reciprocal trade benefits. 

Source: Ameican Shipper