Taiwan to Implement Container Security Initiative (CSI)

United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Ralph Basham announced today that CBP personnel will be stationed at the Port of Keelung to assist their Taiwan counterparts in targeting and prescreening cargo containers destined for the U.S. The deployment is part of CBP’s Container Security Initiative (CSI). “This adds an important new layer to our defense,” said Commissioner Basham. “It also represents a step forward for trade facilitation. Our goal is to protect and promote the movement of trade.”

CSI has deployed CBP officers to Europe, Asia, Africa, North, South and Central America, and the Middle East. Approximately 82 percent of all maritime cargo destined for the U.S. is screened at CSI ports. Unveiled in January 2002, CSI serves the interests of business and security. Under CSI, containers scheduled for importation into the U.S. that are deemed high-risk are inspected at CSI ports. By “extending the borders”, CSI thus secures shipping lanes and facilitates the movement of goods.

CSI is a critical component of the government’s strategy to secure the Nation from the terrorist threat using maritime cargo containers. Twenty-eight customs administrations have committed to joining CSI and are at various stages of implementation.

CSI initially deployed agency personnel to the top 20 largest volume ports that export to the U.S. The program will continue to expand to strategic locations globally that ship goods to the U.S. and that have appropriate infrastructure and technology to participate in the CSI. By the end of 2007, CBP officials hope to expand CSI to 58 ports. This expansion would mean that about 85 percent of imported goods would be covered by CSI.

The World Customs Organization (WCO), the European Union (EU), and the G8 support CSI expansion and have adopted resolutions implementing CSI security measures introduced at ports throughout the world.