A selection of CT Strategies insights dealing with all issues related to border management abroad: from trade facilitation to pilot programs.
The World Customs Organization (WCO) Council, the highest decision-making body in the WCO, held its Annual Council Session in Brussels, Belgium from June 28 to June 30. The Annual Council Session is an opportunity for WCO member states to gather and discuss priority issues facing Customs Administrations worldwide. CT Strategies was fortunate to be able to … Read more
In response to increasing barge congestion and delays spurred by the increasing number of mega-ships, the Port of Rotterdam Authority, in collaboration with Barge Terminal Tilburg and Certus Port Automation (a manufacturer of container identification and monitoring systems), have initiated a three-month pilot container scanning project that will leverage an innovative mobile optical character recognition (OCR) … Read more
On 14 March 2018, the World Customs Organization (WCO) hosted its 4th Global Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Conference in Kampala, Uganda. The conference provides Customs stakeholders the opportunity to interact, network, and exchange experiences as it relates to implementing and developing AEO programs. Aside from Government officials, the conference is attended by academics, private sector representatives, and … Read more
At the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, last month Accenture, in collaboration with the WEF, the Canadian and Dutch governments and other stakeholder groups introduced The Known Traveller Digital Identity (KTDI). KTDI “aims to build an encrypted, biometrically-protected profile that air travellers can show at border checks to demonstrate that they are a low risk … Read more
Friday January 26th, 2018 marked the 65th annual International Customs Day. The celebration is organized by the World Customs Organisation (WCO), Customs offices, trade organizations, and other stakeholder groups around the world. International Customs Day celebrates January 26th, 1953 when the first session of the Customs Cooperation Council, later renamed the WCO, was held in Brussels, … Read more
Since July, 2016, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Mexico Servício de Administración Tributaria (SAT) have worked together to implement 5 joint Unified Cargo Processing programs along the Southwest Border, including a new pilot to be launched in October at the Otay Mesa, CA cargo facility, just south of San Diego. These joint programs … Read more
From July 6th-8th the World Customs Organization’s (WCO) held its 129th/130th Annual Council Session in Brussels, Belgium. Customs authorities from across the world discussed multiple topics including: the WCO Mercator Programme, the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement, data and intelligence sharing, combating illicit financial flows, customs-tax cooperation, and capacity building. Mr. Farrelly attended as … Read more
On June 14, 2017, the Wilson Center’s Mexico Institute brought together public and private sector officials to discuss enhancing and improving operations at the U.S.-Mexico border. Prominent government officials from both countries were present including: Mexican Ambassador to the U.S., Geronimo Gutierrez, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Acting Commissioner, Kevin McAleenan, former CBP Commissioner, Alan Bersin, … Read more
Over the past year there has been an expanded use of biometric passenger screening tools by private airlines, airports, and Department of Homeland Security agencies aimed at making the air travel process more secure and efficient. One of the latest is an effort by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to evaluate the use fingerprint scanners … Read more
While attending annual WCO Council Sessions in Brussels, CT Strategies Partner, Andrew Farrelly, was invited to present to the WCO Private Sector Consultative Group (PSCG). Backed by his years of experience at U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) developing and implementing key components of the WCO SAFE Framework of Standards, Mr. Farrelly provided insights on … Read more