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2007 Annual Forum
View Abstract
Overriding Trends in Cross-Border Regulations and Programs Impacting the Security, Safety and Efficiency of Freight Movements
Garland Chow, Bureau of ITS and Freight Security
Dave Frank, Bureau of ITS and Freight Security
Alicja Gados, Bureau of ITS and Freight Security
The tragic events of 9/11 have resulted in an accelerated, substantive increase in cross-border regulations, programs and the application of technology to address security concerns. The border, and beyond, specifically the entire route of the supply chain, has been targeted as the area where security threats can be intercepted. This focus has allowed the creation of a few key trends that are prevalent in new regulations, especially post 9/11.
For the three regulatory areas identified, safety, security and trade/economic, we argue that security programs have clearly eclipsed both trade/economic issues and safety as drivers of change at the border. The new environment requires stakeholders to take responsibility of security through monitoring of their supply chains and trading partners: thereby creating the other major trends of pushing out of borders and increased private sector accountability. These trends show the government realizes that border security does not end at the physical border, but includes in fact the entire supply chain. The use of EDI is another very important trend taking place. By reducing paper, customs can do so much more with information that it receives from transactions, and can manipulate and analyze it more efficiently. Automated manifests are a high-profile topic for freight security, as they are being made mandatory across modes.
Regulations, programs, infrastructure and communication are increasingly become bilateral. This is a relatively new trend in countries developing similar-focused programs across borders because there is a general recognition that combined, common approach have the greatest positive impact on the secure and efficient movement of international goods.