On January 31, 2013, the United States and the European Union completed implementation of the mutual recognition arrangement for their respective supply chain security programs. The Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) program is now considered the security program equivalent of Europe’s Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) program, and vice versa. Members of one program receive reciprocal benefits when exporting to the other region. These benefits, which include lower risk score and fewer exams when shipping cargo, were provided to members exporting into the U.S. in Phase I of the agreement, which was implemented in July 2012. An information note can be accessed at: http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/resources/documents/customs/policy_issues/customs_security/infonote_aeo-ctpat.pdf
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued its year-end report for fiscal year 2012. CBP processed $2.38 trillion in trade, a five percent increase over FY 2011, and the highest annual import value figure to date. Revenues increased by 6 percent to a record $39.4 billion with duties accounting for $31.2 billion. Entry summary volume increased three percent over 2011 to 30.4 million. The full report is available at http://nemo.cbp.gov/ot/fy12_yearend.pdf
A World Bank publication designed to shed new light on the efforts of Customs and other border management agencies to address the challenges of the trade facilitation agenda and to identify a range of strategies that will help officials meet their traditional control responsibilities while at the same time facilitating legitimate trade. It also provides advice to development professional and key policy makers about what works, what doesn’t and why. This World Bank publication can be downloaded from: http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2011/01/07/000356161_20110107013015/Rendered/PDF/588450PUB0Bord101public10BOX353816B.pdf
The Transportation Security Administration announced Tuesday that U.S. airline passengers will soon be allowed to carry small knives in their carry-on bags, a move that prompted swift condemnation from a flight attendants union. The full Fox News report can be accessed at: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/03/05/tsa-allows-knives-on-board/
