C-TPAT eases border crossing for truckers and shippers
Thursday, November 2nd, 2006 - 4:46 pm
The Globe and Mail’s EXPORTING/BORDER SECURITY page (B11) looks at the necessity for Canadian exporters to register for the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) if they want to avoid costly delays at the USA border. The program is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) attempt to assure security of goods imported into the USA right back to the point of factory origin. C-TPAT qualification for carriers and shippers requires preparation of a security audit that is certified and kept on file by CBP and identifies the holder as a known entity, giving them expedited clearance at the border.
“Program helps firms keep on truckin’” tells the experience of Quebec-based Novatech Glass and notes that an estimated 90% of Quebec exporters are C-TPAT registered. It finds that many manufacturers and exporters already have acceptable security in place and their largest cost of registration is filling out the many pages of government documents and assembling supporting material.
The USA Customs and Border Protection C-TPAT page has backgrounders and application forms. See also, “US Customs delays C-TPAT portal requirement“, and C-TPAT or else” on the Canadian Business web site.
Shameless plug: Tetracom Logistics (c’est moi) assists carriers and exporters in lowering their customs barriers and costs. Tetracom can prepare and submit your C-TPAT application, or help you navigate the complexities of the newly mandatory Automated Commercial Environment (ACE).
