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Return to Article: Lawmakers call for trial run of new cargo security rule

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  The DoD imports and exports over 35,000 containers every day - all over the world to & from their various depots and military sites. This is accomplished w/extraordinary accuracy and speed and supplies very accurate tracking and visibility into what is being shipped. All done with current RFID and IUID technology. International standards of identification and tracking have been developed and also being deployed in B2B applications worldwide using the standards promulgated by the ISO; GS1 and EPCglobal, U.S.. Highly successful "trials" have already been completed and international standards governing the myriad of RFID International Regulations have already been negotiated. This glaring weakness in our import/export regulations is one of the most threatening to our freedom of doing business. What is the alternative? Stop all international imports/exports as the extreme? Or do we implement an already mature and cost-effective way to protect our borders - coming and going!

  Ed Rose Posted September 23, 2008 8:14 AM
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  "Deja vu, all over again", to quote the immortal Yogi Berra! I spent hundreds of hours expediting OK cargo into a large, East Coast airport so that I could find the 'contraband'. No well-trained senior officer would waste time on low-level shipments. But to rubber-stamp all shipments w/out any selectivity is wrong. DHS/CBP has apparently resulted in the demise of the Customs Service, in favor of INS dominance. Wrong, wrong, wrong! "Unrestrained capitalism is unrestrained evil"...

  US Customs Senior Inspector (Retired) Posted August 12, 2008 9:42 PM
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  The focus on facilitation of trade has negatively affected CBP enforcement attempts and has unfortunately taken presidence to the more vital function of preventing weapons of mass destruction, drugs and other clandestinely-imported merchandise from entering the commerce. At what cost do we facilitate trade? With the already limited window of time CBP is given to stop a shipment from being released to the importer, holding freight for 24-48 hours would be a step in the right direction. It gives CBP more time to review the documentation and perform an examination of the freight. That's how it used to be in the old days anyway. Freight was held until it was determined that it wasn't high risk and was permitted to enter the country. Unfortunately, Congress has bent to the pressures of the importers and expedited the trade process subsequently creating greater national security vulnerabilities. Now, immediate release is expected...and when there's even the slightest delay, it becomes an issue. This mandatory reporting requirement was a step in the right direction, but alas it seems the effort to increase the nation's security is being thwarted by the very body sworn to represent it. Good job Blumenauer and the others who signed on to this ridiculous opposition. I assume the monetary contributions these companies are making to your re-election campaigns are substantial enough to justify your lack of concern for our border security issues. I only hope that the American public is made aware of what you have attempted to do here and its potential consequences, and that they remember it come the next election.

  Concerned Party Posted August 8, 2008 9:39 AM
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  WOW this is a surprise! I have worked air cargo and seaport cargo and it's the same old routine. The airlines and the Sea cargo carriers only have one thing on their minds and that is how much money they can make. They could care less about whether bad guys or their WMD make it in, because then they will blame DHS,CBP for not providing enough security. It's a win win situation for them.

  Frank Posted August 7, 2008 8:10 PM