OTTAWA — The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has finally reached an arrangement with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to promote a smarter, more secure and efficient border.

With the new arrangement, both countries will now use similar criteria when granting companies membership to their respective cross-border programs: Canada’s Partners in Protection (PIP) and the U.S.’s Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorrism (C-TPAT).

"This arrangement demonstrates that Canada is moving forward with the United States and the business community to increase cargo security and support economic prosperity," said Greta Bossenmaier, the CBSA’s interim president.

In January 2007, the Government of Canada dedicated $11.6 million to strengthen the PIP program under the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America.

With Canada doing almost $2 billion daily in cross-border trade with the U.S., trade security programs such as PIP contribute to a more secure and efficient border. PIP member’s shipments are eligible for expedited cross-border clearance through Canada’s Free and Secure Trade (FAST) program.

On balance, the Canadian Trucking Alliance is giving the thumbs up to the agreement. The June 28 signing follows months of discussion between CBSA and business groups, including CTA, on ways to bring PIP into line with the more stringent C-TPAT program in the U.S.

Carriers who were members of the PIP program before June 30 of this year, will have six months to re-apply to the re-vamped program. They will be required to complete a security profile, which will be reviewed by CBSA. A follow-up site validation may be required, but CBSA has indicated this step may not be undertaken if a C-TPAT validation has been carried out within the past two years.

Ultimately carriers will be required to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with CBSA that sets out the roles and responsibilities of the respective parties.

“If a carrier is already a C-TPAT member, this should be a relatively straightforward exercise, and they will continue to receive the benefits these programs provide, such as access to FAST lanes at busy international crossings,” says CTA chief executive officer David Bradley.

However, Bradley admits he “remains disappointed that CBSA and CBP have fallen short of the goal of full mutual recognition – that is, a situation where a carrier need only apply to PIP or C-TPAT, but not both. But we have at least taken an important step forward, and I’m hopeful that we will get there eventually.”