*EPF107 08/26/2002
U.S. Customs Chief Cites Importance of Container Security Initiative
(Also lauds public/private-sector partnership to combat terrorism) (830)

By Scott Miller
Washington File Staff Writer

Washington -- As ninety percent of the world's cargo moves by container and 46 percent of all goods entering the United States arrive by ocean-going cargo containers, the securing of this "most critical link" in the U.S. and global trading system is at the forefront of the Bush Administration's homeland security strategy, says Customs Commissioner Robert C. Bonner.

In an August 26 presentation before the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Bonner outlined the importance of the U.S. Customs Service's Container Security Initiative (CSI) and the progress to date in implementing it. He described the CSI as a "revolutionary initiative" and pre-emptive strike against the smuggling of a weapon of mass destruction in one of the approximately 6 million containers entering U.S. ports annually. The detonation of such a device in a U.S. port facility is "truly the sum of all fears," Bonner said. Such an event, he added, would not only have a devastating human cost, but could potentially cripple the global economy.

In an effort to more effectively screen these containers and thereby expand the United States' "zone of security outward" and "protect and secure the global trading system," the United States is entering into partnerships with foreign governments to implement the CSI, Bonner noted.

Among the core elements of the CSI is the identification of high-risk containers. Under the initiative, U.S. customs officials work with their counterparts in foreign ports to identify high-risk containers and search these containers before they are shipped to U.S. ports. The CSI also incorporates the use of x-ray and gamma-ray technology to quickly pre-screen high-risk containers, and promotes the use of more secure containers.

The initial goal of the U.S. Customs Service is to sign up the top 20 ports that account for 68 percent of the containers entering the United States annually. To date, Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Singapore have agreed to participate in the CSI, effectively enrolling six of the 20 ports.

Although Japan, China and other trading partners with major ports have not yet agreed to take part in the CSI, Bonner applauded the "lighting speed" with which the CSI has been implemented since its announcement in January. He noted that the first team of U.S. customs inspectors deployed abroad under the initiative will report for duty at the Port of Rotterdam, the Netherlands, on August 26, marking the first time in the 213-year history of the U.S. Customs Service that inspectors will be assigned outside of North America.

Bonner concluded his remarks on the CSI by indicating that the program offers the United States and its partners "real protection" against a terrorist attack and ensures that, with effective screening mechanisms in place, the CSI network of ports will be able to remain open even in the event of an attack.

Once the top-20 targeted foreign ports have been enrolled in the CSI, Bonner said that the customs service will begin to broaden its outreach to incorporate other nations with important ports into the CSI, including those in Latin America.

Beyond CSI, Bonner assessed the progress in forging a private/public-sector partnership to combat terrorism. He announced that over 300 U.S. companies, principally importers, have agreed to participate in the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT). Under the initiative, private-sector leaders such as General Motors, Ford, Target, Motorola and others are working with the Service to assume greater responsibility for the promotion of homeland security. Bonner said that he hopes to enroll 1,000 U.S. companies in C-TPAT, including ocean-going sea carriers and customs brokers.

Since the September 11 terrorist attacks against New York and Washington, combating terrorism has been the number-one priority for the U.S. Customs Service, according to Bonner, and CSI and C-TPAT are just two of many initiatives the Service has introduced to carry out its counter-terrorism mission.

(The Washington File is a product of the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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