The Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism, affectionately known as C-TPAT, is a program US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) launched in order to better protect Americans, while still facilitating trade to the fullest extent possible.
Importer Benefits
Importers who are interested in applying for the program allow their supply chains, security protocols, and paperwork to be closely audited. Compliance history, security measures, and supply chain structure are some of the areas that are measured in order to determine the viability of a candidate for the C-TPAT program.
In return for their cooperation, CBP considers entities who have voluntarily subjected themselves to this increased scrutiny to represent a lower security risk than those who don’t participate in the program. Because C-TPAT certified companies are considered by CBP to pose a significantly lower security risk, they are generally subjected to fewer examinations and lose less precious time to those examinations. Any business owner knows the old cliché, “Time is money.” C-TPAT partners can potentially benefit from significant time savings, which translates to cost savings. Processing is expedited because there is a much lower probability that C-TPAT companies will fall afoul of compliance guidelines, due to the significant efforts they have put forth to participate in the program.
In addition to expedited processing, importers who join the C-TPAT program receive the benefit of gaining a highly detailed and nuanced understanding of their supply chain’s security measures, including assistance in pinpointing vulnerabilities that may have existed prior to the audit.
Steady Growth
As the program has grown, so have its members. At its inception, the C-TPAT program included just seven importers. Now well over 8,000 companies are C-TPAT members, and the number continues to grow larger.
C-TPAT’s influence expands beyond United States borders to other countries. Mutual recognition agreements with other countries across the globe are being negotiated and signed, further increasing the effectiveness of the program by standardizing programs for the United States’ trade partners.
Enhanced Border Security
An additional benefit to the program is its ability to allow CBP officials to focus their efforts on more problematic shipments. The extra time and resources gained through C-TPAT afford CBP a greater reach without a need for additional personnel. This means safer borders without a significant financial burden on an already expensive border security program.
To learn more about the program, you can visit CBP’s website. They have an excellent C-TPAT fact sheet to browse for more detailed information. Our friends at Trade Innovations also offer some excellent information on the program for those who are interested in educating themselves further.
