Canada Strengthens Its Cargo Security with Japan, Singapore and South Korea

(CBSA)

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) announced today that it has signed three Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRAs) with customs organizations in Japan, Singapore and South Korea. The new arrangements will promote a smarter, more secure and efficient border.

The signing took place at the World Customs Organization in Brussels, Belgium. The MRAs confirm that Japan, Singapore and South Korea are using criteria similar to those used by Canada’s Partners in Protection (PIP) program when granting companies membership to their respective cross-border programs: Japan’s Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) program, Singapore’s Secure Trade Partnership program and South Korea’s AEO program.

“The signing of these three arrangements is an excellent opportunity for Canada to further develop its trade relationships with Japan, Singapore and South Korea,” said Stephen Rigby, President of the CBSA. “This will provide Canadian companies greater facilitation in these key foreign markets, while further ensuring the security of the supply chain.”

This international cooperation will allow customs agents to focus their efforts on unknown or high-risk areas – a demonstration of how Canada is moving forward to increase cargo security on an international scale while continuing to support economic prosperity.

Members of the CBSA’s Partners in Protection program benefit from having an enhanced reputation as low-risk companies and attract business partners looking for companies with high security standards. In addition, participation in PIP is a prerequisite for expedited cross-border clearance through their participation in Canada’s Free and Secure Trade program.

CBP Detroit Implements ‘Ready Lane’ Pilot Program

(CBP)

RFID-Enabled Documents Get Special Lane During Program

U.S. Customs and Border Protection today announced a pilot program at the Ambassador Bridge for travelers with approved Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology-enabled travel documents. The pilot program will start Monday, June 28, and last for 90 days.

CBP will dedicate lane 13, or the “Ready Lane,” for travelers entering the U.S. with a WHTI-compliant, RFID-enabled document. These documents include:

• U.S. Passport card

• Enhanced Driver’s License or Enhanced Identification card

• Trusted Traveler card, such as NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST

• New Permanent Resident card or a new Border Crossing card

“Since the implementation of WHTI in June 2009, travelers have been required to present secure travel documents that denote citizenship and identity when entering the U.S. at land ports,” said Acting Director Field Operations Roderick Blanchard. “The use of RFID technology in these documents enables CBP to further facilitate legitimate travelers as they cross the border into the U.S. This pilot program will help us determine the efficiency and effectiveness of a dedicated RFID lane for those travelers.”

During the pilot program, the “Ready Lane” will be open from 6 to 10 a.m., seven days a week. CBP will monitor the success of the lane and expand the hours of operation as needed to meet the demand for usage.

In order to use this dedicated lane, all adult passengers over the age of 16, must present one of the approved travel documents.

Travelers using the “Ready Lane” are reminded the three simple steps to follow as they approach a U.S. land port of entry with their RFID-enabled travel card:

• Stop at the entry to the inspection lane and wait for a signal to move forward.

• Each passenger removes his or her travel card from its protective sleeve and holds it up, with the flat front face of the card toward a window on the driver’s side. The RFID-enabled cards will be read automatically while the vehicle proceeds to the inspection booth.

• Stop at the inspection booth, and be prepared to present documents for all travelers in the vehicle to the CBP officer.

“The priority lane complements Michigan’s enhanced driver’s license by adding another element of convenience for travelers,” said Michigan Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land, who secured federal approval of the state’s enhanced license program.

“As the enhanced license becomes even more popular, I applaud U.S. Customs and Border Protection for exploring ways to efficiently accommodate motorists who enjoy its advantages. Our state and federal partnership is responding to the needs of travelers while ensuring the security of Michigan and America.”

CBP Announces NEXUS Enrollment Center in Fort Frances, Ontario

(CBP)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection today announced that the NEXUS enrollment center in Fort Frances, Ontario Canada will be able to enroll Free and Secure Trade (FAST) applicants effective Monday, May 3.

The NEXUS enrollment center at 301 Scott Street in Fort Frances, Ontario Canada will be open to FAST applicants from Monday through Thursday 8:30 a.m. (CST) to 6:30 p.m. (CST).

The FAST program allows pre-screened, low-risk travelers to be processed with less delay by United States and Canadian officials at designated commercial highway lanes at high-volume border crossing locations. Approved applicants are issued a FAST card which they present to the CBP officer when they arrive at the port of entry and proceed to make their declaration.

The FAST cards have enhanced security features that allow U.S. and Canadian citizen cardholders to comply with the documentary requirements under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). To participate, both the United States and Canada must approve an individual’s application. Denial of an application by either country will keep an individual from participating in the FAST program.

The FAST program is a binational program and applicants need to complete an-online application form. Qualified applicants are required to visit a FAST enrollment center for an interview. Interviews can be scheduled on-line using the Global On-line enrollment system located on the FAST Web site here. Applicants can contact the International Falls port of entry at (218) 283-2541 if they have any question on the FAST or NEXUS programs.

The FAST program is available to commercial drivers crossing both the northern and southern borders. Currently, the program has more than 86,000 members.

FAST, Importer Application Process for Importing into Canada

(CSCB)

The CBSA has published a guide on FAST, Importer Application Process for Importing into Canada. It is available on the CBSA website.

Drivers Should Have Next-Gen FAST Cards In-Hand

(Today’s Trucking)

Older, first generation FAST cards will no longer be accepted by Canada Border Services Agency or US Customs and Border Protection as of Dec. 1, 2009.

The Ontario Trucking Association reports that all commercial drivers should have received their Generation 2 FAST cards. Drivers who have not, should contact the FAST enrollment centre where they originally applied or click here.

The Generation 2 card is equipped with radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, which enables the transmission of identification data from a distance.

The two border agencies have reportedly not yet decided how to handle old FAST cards — whether drivers can throw them out or hand them in — so drivers are advise to hold on to them just in case.

Partners in Protection Program (PIP) Update

(CBSA)

Partners in Protection (PIP) is a Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) program that enlists the cooperation of private industry to enhance border and trade chain security, combat organized crime and terrorism and help detect and prevent contraband smuggling.

It is a voluntary program with no membership fee that aims to secure the trade chain, one partnership at a time. Industry strongly supports the PIP program and greatly values the commitment of PIP members to do their part, together with the CBSA, to secure the supply chain and facilitate legitimate trade.

Be on this list of participating PIP members: (last update July 10, 2009)

PIP Legacy Members (last updated May 29, 2009): Legacy Members are those who joined PIP before new security requirements were introduced on June 30, 2008. PIP legacy members have until March 31, 2009 to re-apply under the modernized program. As of April 1st 2009, only those legacy members that have re-applied and are awaiting approval are listed.

Note: Only members that have given permission to publish their names are included / listed.April 28th, 2009: updated list here

Keep in mind PIP is the security component for FAST into Canada! Don’t risk your current FAST approvals!

Contact us today! Let us assist you in meeting your security responsibility into Canada!

FOR FOR MORE INFORMATION : Visit the CBSA website or call 519-966-9821

CBSA to Retain In-Bond Option for Cross-Border Carriers

(Truck News)

The Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) is declaring victory after successfully lobbying for the allowance of in-bond Customs clearance when the Advanced Commercial Information System (ACI)/e-Manifest program is rolled out.

Until recently, Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) had suggested it would not allow goods to be moved in-bond for later clearance if all paperwork was not filed in advance by the owners of the cargo. Instead, trucks would have been turned back at the border, which would have proven costly for carriers – especially LTL carriers hauling freight for multiple shippers on a single trailer.

CTA argued that removing the in-bond option would negatively impact the entire supply chain. And eventually, CBSA agreed. The border agency said it would retain the in-bond option for carriers that participate in low-risk programs such as FAST, PIP, CSA or C-TPAT.

“By continuing to allow low-risk carriers the ability to move goods in-bond to clear customs at a secure inland facility the CBSA is demonstrating a clear commitment to conduct enhanced risk assessment without unduly impeding trade,” said CTA chief David Bradley.

Canadian Border Crossings: From Bad to Worse?

(Land Line – David Tanner)

Truckers can face two worst-case scenarios when crossing the U.S.-Canadian border. Not only are long wait times a foregone conclusion, especially from Michigan or New York into Ontario, but there’s also a chance that insufficient paperwork on a load will lead to an even longer wait or a flat-out rejection.

Transport Canada is working to implement a streamlined system for cross-border freight similar to the ACE program in the U.S. ACE stands for Automated Commercial Environment, and it requires truckers or shippers to send a load manifest electronically to border officials ahead of a crossing.

The Canadian system is called ACI, or Advance Commercial Information.

An easy way to decipher the alphabet soup is to think of ACE and ACI as the manifest paperwork for the freight, while FAST, C-TPAT and other programs are the credentials used for the drivers.

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association is certainly in favor of streamlining the clearance system at border crossings, but not when the system favors large businesses and shuts out small carriers from the U.S.

The ACI program, according to OOIDA, favors larger carriers that are already paying to belong to programs such as FAST, C-TPAT and others. OOIDA believes many small-business operators could get shut out if they don’t jump through extra hoops at extra costs.

The Canadian Trucking Alliance, on the other hand, is lobbying the government for protections for the biggest carriers, shippers and customs brokers who use FAST, C-TPAT and the credentialing programs that small businesses may not use. Read more here.

Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) Reminder

(U.S. CBP — Pembina)

Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) documentary requirements for land and sea travel will go into effect on June 1, 2009. U.S., Canadian, and Bermudan citizens that
were previously exempt document requirements will be required to present a WHTI-compliant document for entry into the United States at land and sea ports of entry beginning June 1.

WHTI codes will be applied to ACE E-Manifests starting April 2009, with a transition period, until compliance is enforced on June 1, 2009. Effective June 1, 2009, all E-Manifests filed that are non-WHTI compliant will be rejected by ACE until WHTI compliance is obtained. As a reminder, WHTI-compliant documents include the following:

• U.S., Canadian or Bermudan passports;
• U.S. Passport Card;
• Enhanced Driver’s Licenses (when and where available);
• Trusted Traveler Cards (NEXUS, SENTRI, or FAST);
• Form I-872 American Indian Card, or (when available) Enhanced Tribal Cards;
• Military identification cards (for members of the U.S. armed forces on official orders);
• U.S. Merchant Mariner Document (for U.S. citizens on official maritime business);

As specified in the WHTI land and sea final rule, U.S. and Canadian citizen children under age 16, and those under age 19 traveling in a designated group, may present an original or copy of his or her birth certificate, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, a Naturalization Certificate, or a Canadian Citizenship Card.

U.S. Export Study Calls for More Flexibility on Border Policies

(Buffalo News – Matt Glynn)

A new study of export activity along the U.S.-Canadian border suggests using more regional flexibility in continent-wide policies designed to protect the border and keep traffic flowing.

The findings are part of a “Border Brief” prepared by the University at Buffalo’s Regional Institute and the Border Policy Research Institute of Western Washington University.

Discussions about the border have typically focused on a choice between security and commerce, said Kathryn Bryk Friedman, deputy director of the UB Regional Institute. “In my view, this research demonstrates this is a false dichotomy.”

The study focused on export activity in October 2007 at two border points: Buffalo Niagara and Blaine, Wash., which is between Seattle and Vancouver, B. C. October is commonly the peak month for trade due to pre-holiday stockpiling, the report said. During that month, nearly 20% of all U. S.-to-Canada surface exports crossed via bridges in Buffalo and Niagara Falls, compared to more than 5% at Blaine.

Ensuring a smooth flow of traffic is vital because Canada is by far the United States’ largest trading partner, the brief said. U.S. exports to Canada in October 2007 were valued at $23.5 billion, compared to $12.4 billion for Mexico and $5.5 billion to China.

Federal agencies on both sides of the border have implemented prescreening programs that enable participating shippers and drivers to cross the border more quickly, while taking into account heightened security concerns stemming from the 2001 terrorist attacks.

The report suggests that programs such as FAST – short for Free and Secure Trade – work better at some crossings than others along the 5,000-mile-long border, based on the type of shipments and the companies hauling the goods. For instance, about 44% of trucks crossing the Detroit-Windsor border used FAST lanes, compared to 23% in Buffalo Niagara and only 5% at Blaine.

The study said that participation in FAST at Detroit-Windsor is high because so much of the freight is related to automotive manufacturing, an industry with large, sophisticated companies and a small number of shippers.

In Blaine, Wash., FAST participation was low because much of its truck traffic is related to agricultural products, which can be more difficult to screen due to their complex supply chain, the brief said.

“Rather than look to policy solutions at the continental level, policies that allow for some flexibility in regional implementation could improve border efficiencies without compromising border security,” said Peter Lombardi, a UB institute policy analyst and co-author of the brief, in a statement.

The UB Regional Institute and the Border Policy Research Institute of Western Washington University are developing a “border barometer” that will measure a number of factors at the border crossings in the Buffalo area and the Pacific Northwest. It is possible other border points will be included in the barometer, Friedman said.

The barometer will include the movement of goods and people over the border from 1995 to 2007, and also look at factors such as infrastructure, security agreements between officials on opposite sides of the border, and security performance.

“The whole idea is to get these objective measures in place so that we’re all speaking the same language,” Friedman said.

The two institutes have received $11,500 from the Northern Border Research Consortium to develop the barometer. UB, Western Washington University and four other universities belong to the consortium. The barometer results are expected to be released at a conference scheduled for February 2009 in Washington, D.C.

Modernized PIP Program

(CBSA)

As you know, the modernized PIP program was successfully launched on June 30th, 2008, following the signing of a mutual recognition arrangement between the PIP and C-TPAT programs.

All legacy members must submit a completed Security Profile before midnight on December 31, 2008 to retain their PIP membership status and benefits until the CBSA has approved or denied their application.

Failure to re-apply before the deadline will result in the cancellation of a company’s PIP membership on January 01, 2009. As PIP membership is mandatory to participate in FAST into Canada, this will affect FAST privileges.

We encourage legacy members to begin completing the Security Profile as soon as possible, allowing enough time to answer all questions thoroughly. Applications with insufficient information may be rejected.

If you have not already received a Security Profile, you can request one by sending an email to PIP-PEP@cbsa-asfc.gc.ca.

More information is available at the CBSA’s PIP website.

C-TPAT: Requirements & Advantages (Part 3)

How C-TPAT and FAST offer competitive advantages to North American manufacturers over Chinese counterparts. Discussion also briefly touches on ACE and the e-manifest system and the Security & Prosperity Partnership (SPP) as it relates to expanding the range of goods included under the NAFTA and its Rules of Origin.

Related: Part 1, Part 2

New on CBSA Website: FAST Commercial Driver Program

New FAST program information posted at the CBSA website.

As an approved participant of the FAST program, you will receive:

• the participant’s guide;

• a FAST Commercial Driver card with photo identification;

• for Canadian residents, a copy of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) publication called, I Declare, and the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) publication called, Visiting the United States, and if applicable, Traveller Declaration Cards for declaring goods;

• for United States residents, a copy of the CBSA publication called, Information for Visitors to Canada and Seasonal Residents, and the CBP publication called, Know Before You Go; and

• information on Canadian and American immigration rules related to cabotage.