Cross-Border Checklist
6 March 2003
Cross-Border Checklist
The following message is from CSCB President Carol West; it has been sent to all CSCB members, principals and national Board of Directors.
Concern is growing about the impact of a U.S. invasion of Iraq on Canada-US border operations. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), which represents many businesses with cross-border interests, recently asked the CSCB to participate in the writing of a Cross-Border Checklist that would provide their members with some guidelines that could help in mitigating any negative effects resulting from further tightening of the U.S. border. A copy of the document published as a result of those consultations is available on the CSCB web site at
http://www.cscb.ca/listinfo/crossborderchecklist.pdf
As you deal with your own clients and supply chain partners in this new era of heightened border security, you might find this checklist of some value. We are pleased that the CFIB and other associations that have adopted this checklist recognize the critical role that customs brokers can play in minimizing the problems that undoubtedly will arise whenever the US government chooses to make its border more secure.
As an association, we at the CSCB are very interested in knowing what steps you, our members, have taken to prepare yourselves and your clients for what many feel is an inevitable tightening of our border with the U.S. Have any of you applied or signed up with the Partners in Protection Program? For those of you with U.S. offices, have you applied or signed up with C-TPAT? What have you been telling your clients to allay their justifiable fears?
The CSCB, through its active membership in the IFCBA, also has some positive news to report in terms of our efforts to gain recognition for the role of customs brokers in securing the supply chain. In the most recent report from the WCO, we were pleased to see that there is a recommendation that "acceptance of the concept of mutually recognized 'authorized traders and service providers' will be required" – at last, recognition of authorized service providers, including customs brokers in the supply chain!
With such recognition comes increased responsibility and increased expectations. A recent communication from CSCB Chairman Tom Mountain to CSCB corporate principals confirmed the direction that the CSCB is taking in preparing members for the ACI environment, an environment that is more in keeping with the expected future of international trade. As we continue our future-oriented strategies, both as an association and as individual businesses, it is reassuring to know that individually and collectively we are up to this challenge, and that together we have the opportunity to continue to be the lynch-pin for all players in the supply chain. We have much work ahead of us, but the door has been opened for customs brokers. Let us know what you think at [email protected].