NEW minimum-security criteria (MSC) has been rolled out by U.S. Customs and Border Protection under the CTPAT Program.

What is CTPAT?

Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT) is a federal government program set up by the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that allows companies shipping goods and materials into the country to become certified as a low-risk security threat. Certification means that cargo can move more quickly through US customs checkpoints.

These voluntary government sponsored initiatives such as CTPAT, Organización de los Estados Americanos OEA Mexico, Authorized Economic Operator AEO Europe and Asia and Partners in Protection (PIP) are cooperative programs aimed at strengthening and improving international supply chains for better border security. CBP is one of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's largest and most complex components, with a priority mission of keeping terrorists and their weapons out of the US.

In order to be CTPAT certified or compliant, a supply chain partner must meet the minimum-security requirements as defined by CBP by answering a set of questions.

What is AIAG's CTPAT/Supply Chain Security Program?

AIAG, in collaboration with several member companies, has developed a common system to be used by automotive importers and their supply chain business partners to comply with CTPAT requirements. This includes the first common industry CTPAT questionnaire along with the associated corrective actions. Questionnaires are tailored for each type of supply chain business partner, including foreign manufacturers, highway, rail, air, and sea carriers, customs brokers, consolidators, 3PLs, etc.

Benefits include:

• Importers and their supply chain business partners have a common process to request, complete, and evaluate supply chain security compliance.
• Named as Best Practice by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
• New Minimum-Security Criteria published by U.S. Customs and Border Protection is developed by AIAG into common partner type questionnaires, which are reviewed and approved by several importers.
• Reporting capability can be used when conducting supplier security validations and as material supplied to CBP to provide supporting supply chain security documentation.
• Suppliers that have multiple importers as customers need only answer one questionnaire.
• Threat Assessment information is available for all countries and can be evaluated by specific trade lanes.
• And much more!

Coming soon:

• Heat map that shows the location of each partner on a geographical map, similar to the display on Google Maps.
• Partner survey information will be tagged to help the automotive importers visually identify and track their supply chain risks.

The CTPAT/Supply Chain Security Program assessment simplifies administration of the entire CTPAT program, allowing companies to proactively prepare for certification, manage the program to maintain CTPAT Status, and comply with CBP’s recommended 5-Step Risk Assessment Process. The CTPAT/Supply Chain Security Program is a subscription-based service that allows trade partners to complete one questionnaire that's universally accepted by all participants.

Contact Us To Get Started!

If you are interested in the CTPAT/Supply Chain Security Program and would like more information or a free demonstration of the program, fill out the form below and an AIAG representative will contact you.

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Project Lead: Myriam Cronk - AIAG