Fixing the border

• Published in: Canadian Transportation Logistics Vol. 106; no. 8; p. 24
• Main Author: Bradley, David
• Format: Trade Publication Article
• Language: English
• Published: Don Mills Business Information Group 01.08.2003
• Subjects: Customs regulations; Electronic data interchange; Exports; International trade; Shipments; Software; Trucking; Trucking industry; Canada; United States > US
• ISSN: 2292-2490; 2292-2504

There are still a lot of areas in the 30-point action plan where work needs to be done. Numerous other measures have been proclaimed or proposed which could, depending on how they are implemented, denigrate or scupper the gains made as a result of the Smart Border Declaration. That list includes such measures as mandatory electronic pre-notification of all land shipments into the United States. Objections from the trade community on both sides of the border led to the withdrawal of the Homeland Security Department's so-called "strawman" proposals, which would have required 4 hours pre-lading notice of shipments to the U.S. and 24 hours notice prior to lading of shipments loaded in the U.S. and destined for Canada. A new proposed rule was published in the Federal Register on July 23rd and is expected to become law this year. It is an improvement over the strawman proposal. And, enrollment in FAST provides added benefit. Shipments into the U.S. by truck under the FAST system will be subject to a more livable 30-minute pre-notification requirement before arriving at the border. (The pre-lading requirement has been dropped). For carriers using PAPS the pre-notification interval will be one hour. (The proposed pre-notification of U.S. export shipments to Canada has been dropped, keeping the existing exemption).