Cargo info in advance at borders
Date: 2003-07-28
Under new rules proposed yesterday, truckers could have to notify Customs about details of their cargo 30 minutes to one hour before crossing the U.S. border. The proposed regulations, would be implemented under the Trade Act of 2002, which was passed last year and is intended to help identify shipments that pose a potential terrorist risk.. Final rules will be released in the fall following a period of public comment. The regulations are similar to a recent Canadian Customs proposal.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bureau wants to obtain advance information, in electronic format, on goods transported to and from the United States by air, truck, rail and sea, and run the data through an automated system linked to various law enforcement databases. The goal is to target cargo with potential terrorist risk.
“The proposed regulations are the result of a careful and considered effort to strike the appropriate balance between security and trade facilitation,” says Customs and Border Protection commissioner Robert Bonner. The advance notification required is 4 hours for air cargo, two hours for rail, 24 hours for ships and 2 hours for trucks.
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