U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) has three programs in which organizations can voluntarily take part. They are the Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT), the Free and Secure Trade Program (FAST), and the Importer Self-Assessment (ISA). It is important to understand how participating in these programs may be beneficial to your organization. This module explains how these programs are organized and what they do to help participants. CTPAT members receive faster processing at the border and other benefits. They also become eligible to participate in ISA. Meanwhile, FAST expedites processing for low risk shipments into the United States from Mexico and Canada. This module will help you understand the differences between these programs and whether or not your organization would benefit from participating.
Learning Objectives:
- Find out how importers are classified within CTPAT
- Discover the benefits of participating in CTPAT
- Learn who needs to be FAST-approved for expedited processing
Skills you’ll gain
Customs ProceduresWhat You'll Learn
- Understand how the three voluntary CBP programs (CTPAT, FAST, and ISA) are organized and what they do for participants
- Find out how importers are classified within CTPAT
- Discover the benefits of participating in CTPAT, including faster border processing and eligibility for ISA
- Learn who needs to be FAST-approved for expedited processing
- Compare the differences between CTPAT, FAST, and ISA to determine whether your organization would benefit from participating
Key Takeaways
- U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) offers three programs that organizations can voluntarily take part in: CTPAT, FAST, and ISA.
- CTPAT members receive faster processing at the border and other benefits, and become eligible to participate in ISA.
- FAST expedites processing for low-risk shipments into the United States from Mexico and Canada.
- Understanding these programs helps an organization decide whether participation would be beneficial.
Frequently Asked Questions
What CBP programs does this course cover?
It covers the three programs that organizations can voluntarily take part in with U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP): the Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT), the Free and Secure Trade Program (FAST), and the Importer Self-Assessment (ISA).
What are the benefits of participating in CTPAT?
CTPAT members receive faster processing at the border and other benefits, and they become eligible to participate in ISA.
What does the FAST program do?
FAST expedites processing for low-risk shipments into the United States from Mexico and Canada. The course also explains who needs to be FAST-approved for expedited processing.
Who should take this course?
It is suited to those who want to understand how these CBP programs are organized, how importers are classified within CTPAT, and whether their organization would benefit from participating.
What skills does this course build?
The course focuses on Customs Procedures, helping you understand the differences between CTPAT, FAST, and ISA.
Transcript
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(upbeat music) Organizations can participate in three voluntary programs offered by Customs and Border Protection, including Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism, the Free and Secure Trade program, and the Importer Self-Assessment. Let's go over them now. CTPAT stands for Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism. The voluntary program creates a partnership between the US Customs and Border Protection and organizations. The goal of the program is to protect an organization's entire supply chain. According to CBP, there are more than 11,000 members of the program. Based on the value of the cargo, these numbers account for more than 52% of the cargo imported into the US. In order to be accepted as a member of CTPAT, organizations need to meet security requirements. These requirements vary based on industry and their role within an industry. These requirements can be found on the CBP website. Importers are classified into three levels. Each of these levels has their own set of requirements. Tier I: These organizations have to have their application approved and our CTPAT partners. Tier II: Organizations in this level have met the minimum security requirements and have completed a validation. Tier III: These organizations have met the requirements for the other levels and use layers of defense that are constantly monitored by management. In return for securing their supply chain, CTPAT members receive faster processing at the border. The higher in organizations level, the more benefits they receive for being a member. Benefits of CTPAT include; Shorter wait time at the border. reduction of CBP inspections, moving to the front of the line for inspections, access to the free and secure trade lanes at land borders, eligibility to participate in the importers self-assessment program, being assigned a supply chain security specialist to assist in keeping the supply chain secure, and being recognized as a trusted trade partner by customs administration of other countries.
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