The juggling act between supply chain security and trade facilitation, coupled with today’s economic reality, will evolve in 2011. U.S. Customs and Border Protection has implemented the Importer Security Filing rule in a way that focuses more on informed compliance than enforced compliance.
Going forward, however, there will be more enforcement of non-filing and late filing of the data elements. CBP will begin to issue financial penalties, along with the automatic security exams and delayed releases presently in place, if all necessary information hasn’t been provided.
The ISF rule focuses on the ocean model, but as international threats appear in a variety of modes, the logistics industry will have to adjust to changing global security procedures. Our role is to educate customers and supply chain partners on how to keep the flow of goods moving without delay and to facilitate a secure supply chain. The best logistics service providers will be the ones able to keep in step with the fluctuations and demands of the global marketplace.
Although we are faced with effectively balancing security and trade, we are guardedly optimistic about the international trade economy in 2011. It is imperative that enough capacity is available to ensure competitive rates. The industry must continue to evaluate capacity and rate issues prevalent in Asia-U.S. ocean trade last year to enhance our economic revival.