US-Mexico CTPAT Security Standards Examined
In 2023, Mexico overtook China as America's largest trading partner, as companies increasingly "nearshore" manufacturing to avoid PRC China production and simplify supply chains. But rising congestion at US-Mexico border crossings threatens to create a costly supply chain bottleneck for those who pursue nearshoring.
The solution may be a US government program that expedites border crossings in exchange for adherence to stringent security standards in member companies' supply chains, particularly for facilities handling cargo.
In this report, we examine this program, its growing importance as companies increase US-Mexico trade, and the CBP video surveillance, access control, and cybersecurity standards needed to qualify.
Executive *******
*** ****** ** ********* ************* ***** in ****** **** *** ***** *** the ** ** **********, *** *** many, ********** ** **********-***** *********** ******* ********* (*****)** ****** ** ** ***** *** increased ******** ********.
*** ******* *** ************* ******* **** times ** *** **-****** ******, ********** supply ***** ********** *** ******** *****. CTPAT ****** ********* *** ** ** six ***** **** ****** ** ** inspected, *** * ********* **** ** crossings, *** *** "***** ** *** line" ********* **** ***.
** ********, ******* **** ****** **** an ***** ** *** ************ ********** their ****** ******. ***** ******* ***** surveillance *** ****** ******* ** ********** and ************* *********.
********* *** ******* **** ***** ******* becoming ******* ** *********** ***** ******** or ************* ** ****** *********. *******, members ** ***, **** **** ***** be ******** ** ****** **** ***** security ********* ** **** ****** ***** at *** ***** ** *** ****** chain ***** ** ******* ** *** US.
CTPAT ******** *** ********
******* ** **** ***** */**, ** Customs *** ****** *******'* (***)*******-***** *********** ******* ********* (*****)** ******** ** ******** *** ****** of ******* *********** ********** **** *********** on *** **** ** ***** **** the ** ** ********** ***** *** partner *********.
** ****** *** ******* **********, ***** members ***** ** ****** ********* "******** procedures ********** ***** ****** ******," ********* CBP-specified ***** ************, ****** *******, *** cybersecurity *********.
************* ******* ** ***** ********** *******, *********:
- ********* *** "**** ** *** ***** less ******" ** ** ********* ** CBP;
- "***** ** *** ****" ********* **** inspections ** *****, ********* *** "***** ahead ** *** *** *-**** ********* awaiting ****, ********** ** *** **** they **** **** *****";
- ****** ** * ********* "**** ****" at ****** *********;
- ********** ** * "****** ***** ******** Specialist" **** ***.
******* **** ******* *** ******* ********** ********* **** **** ****** *********** Agreements**** *** **, ********* *** **, UK, ******, *****, *** ******** ******.
CTPAT ********* ** ****** ************* *****
********* ****** ********* *** * ******** advantage *** *********, ************ ** *** US-Mexico ******. ** *** ****** ** US-Mexico ***** *****, ** *** **** the ********** ** *****, *** * wider ***** ** ********* **** *** to ********* ***'* ********* ******** *********.
** ************* ** ****** ** ********* to ******** *************** **** ** ********* ******* "***********" and **** **** **** *** ***** production. **** ******** *****-*****-** ***** **** ****"**** ** ****" ****** ****** ***** accelerated ****** ****************** "***** ** ********* ****** ***** reorientation ** *** ********."
*******, ************* ** ****** ***** ******** prospects ** ********* *** ****** ** efficiently **** ***** ** *** **.********** ****** ** *** ********* ********** ******** **** ***** ** *********** ******* ** ********* ******* ***** like *****. ** *** ***** ** September ****, **** ******** ****** **** **-** ******* ** ****, * ***** ********, and *** ************ **** ********* ** ******** ******* **********. *** ****** ***** a ***** **** *** ******* *** prospective *************, ** **** ** ** the ******* ** *********** ** * US ****** ****.
***** ******** * ******** **** *** importers *** *** ** **********. ** allows *** ** ******** ****** ******** by ******** ******** ***** ** ******* rather **** ******* ****-********* ***********, ******** CBP's ****** ** *** ******. ***** CTPAT ******* *** *** ********** ** avoid ******, **** **** *********** ********** over ***-*******, *** **** ****** ************ in **** ***** **** ** *********** important ** *****.
CPTAT ******** ********* ********
***** ******* **** ****** **** * detailed *** ** ***************** ** *****'* ******* ******** ******** (MSC) *********. ** **** ******, **** ******* on *** ***** *** ******** ******** criteria. *******, *** *** ***** * broad ***** ** ***** *****, **** agricultural ******** ** ********* ********. ** also ******* *** ******** *** *********, ******* ****** ***** ********,*** *************, ** **** *** **** ******** to ********** **-****** *****.
*** ***** ******** ********* ******* ***** to ****** ** ******* *** ******, while *** ******** ******** ******** *** to ****** **** *** ****** ***** cargo ** ******, ******, ******, ** otherwise ******* *** ****** *** ********* to ******* *********; **** **, ** prevent *** ****** **** ****** ******* items ** * ********. ******* **** implement ***** ********* "********** ***** ****** chains, [********* **] ************* *****, ********, distribution *******, ******* *****."
********* ***** **** ***** ******** **** perimeter *******, ******/********* **** *********, *** escorting ** ******** ** ******** ******** technology ************, ***** "****** ** **** to ******* ******** *** ******* ************ access ** ********* *****."
*** ***** ******** ** *********, ****** many ***, *** **** *******'* ************** of *** *** *** ****; ***** emphasizes **** "******** ******** ****** ** customized ** *** **** *******'* *************."
*** ********* ***** ** **** ********* must ******** *** **** ***** ****** chains *** ******, *** ********* *** be ******* ** ***** *** ** with ******* ********, ***** ** *** they ******* ******** ******* **********. *** some, **** *** ******* ******** ********** that ** ****** *** ***, ***** others *** *** ** **** **** minimal **********.
Standards *** ***** ** ***-*******
***** ********* ***** ** *** ****** group ** ********* ******** ** * product's ****** *****, *** **** *** CTPAT ****** *******.
*** *** ******* **** ***** ******* ensure "******** ******** **** ******** ******** in ***** **** **** ** ****** CTPAT’s ******* ******** ******** (***)."
******** ******** ******* "*** ********** ** company ***** ******* *** ****** *** chain ** ******* *** ******** ** goods ***** ******** ** ** ******** from *** ****** ****** *** * CTPAT ******’* ****** *****." ***** ******** intensive *** ********* *** ******* ******** inspections ** ***** ********.
*** ********** ** **** ** **** while ************* ***** ***** *** ******* of ******** * ***** ****** ********** by *********** **************, **** ***** ****** avoid ***** ******** *********.
Video ************ *********
***** *** ******* ******** *********, ***** surveillance ****** ** **** ** ******* any "******/********* *****" *** **** ***** "key ***** ** ********** **** ******* to *** ******/****** *******," **** **:
***** ******** *** ******* *****, ********/********* areas ***** ****** ********* *** ****, IT *******, **** *** ******* ***** for *********** ** ************* ******* (***), areas ***** *** *** *********, *** seal ******* *****.
("*********** ** ************* *******" *** ******** used ** **** *****, **** **********.)
************, "******** ** *****" ** * facility "****** ** ******* ** * specific ********* ****," *** *** ******* or ********** *********/***** ** ****** ***** should ** ***** ************.
*****'* ******* *********** ** **** ***** areas *** ******** ********* *** ** not ************ ********* *** **** ** cameras, *****, ** ***** ****** **************, nor *** *** ******** ***** ********* required.
*******, ************ ******* **** **** * few *********** *********:
- *** ** ****** **/*.
- "****** ** *** ******* ******* ******* setting ********** *********." (** ********** ************ metric ** *********.)
- "**** ** *****/************ *******, ***** ***** signal '******* ** *******/******'" *** ***** a ******* ** ******** *********.
************, ********* **** ******** ****** ****** footage ** "****** **** ***** ******** procedures *** ***** ******** ********" *** that ** ******* ******** ** *********. Companies ****** **** ***** ******* ** case *** ***** ** *********** ********* shipments. ***** ********** ******* ** ******** for "** ***** ** ****" ***** a ******** *******.
** ********* *** *****-*****, ***-**** ****** monitoring, **** "**** **** ******* ********** stipulating ******** ******* ************* *** ************** protocols **** ** (*** *** ******* to) ******** **** *******, ****** ** subtracting ********** *********, ******** *********, *** systems ****** ** *******."
*******, ******* ****** ** ********* ** a ****** ***** ****** **** ****** continued ********* "** *** ***** ** an ********** **** ** *****."
Access ******* *********
*** ******* ******** ********* **** ********* the *** ** ****** *******:
* ********* ************** ****** **** ** in ***** *** ******** ************** *** access ******* ********
**** ***** ******* "******** ************** ******, visitor *** ****** ********* ******, ********* identification *******, ********* *** *****, *****, and ****." ******** ****** *** ***** individual, ******* ** ******** ** *******, entering *** ******* ****** ** ********* areas. ***** ****** **** ** ** electronic ****** ** ****** *** ******* and ******* ****** ** *** ******** entering ** ******** ******/********* *****.
******* ********* "***** ********* **** **** other" *** *** ******* ********** ****** control *******, *** "*********, *** * company **** **** **** ** *********," it ** ********."
** **** ***** ************, *** ****** must **** * ****** ***** ******. Other ******-******* ********* ******* ********* *******, manned/monitored **** *********, ********* *** ********** of ***** ******* ** ** ******** off *********, ******** ******* ****, *** escorting ********.
Inspections *** *********** *******
***** ******* **** ********* **** *** inspect ******** ********** ** ****** ** is ******* ********.
******* ****** ***** **** "***** ******** such ** ****** ********* *********; ****** detection ******; ****** *** ****** (***), and ******* *****, **** **** *** up ********" *** "******** ******* *** positioned ********* *** ****** ** *** proper ******** (******* *** **** **** deliberately ** ************ *****)," ***** ***** requirements.
***** *** ******** ** *** ******* precisely *** ********** ******* ****** *****, they *** ** ****** ** *********:
- "***** *** ******* **** *** ****** and ***** ***** *******, *************, ** additions ** * ******** ** ********. A ******'* ********* *** **** **** compromised, ****** ************* ** ***************."
- "***** *** ***** ******* ** ***** or ******** ********."
*** ******* ** ******* **** ** documented, *** "** ********** ******* *** necessary, **** *** ** ** *********** as **** ** ********," *** ***** corrective ******* **** **** ** **********.
******** *** ********** *** ******* **** be ******** *** ******* ** ***** annually ** ***** *** ******** *********.
Encourages ******** ********* ** ***** "***** ******** **********"
*** ******** ********* ***** "********/********* ********* when *********** *** ****** *** ************ of ******** **********."
**** ***** **** ********* ***** ****** "the ***** ******** **********" **** ** "ineffective" ** *********** ******:
Oftentimes ********* ******** *** ***** ******** ********** **** ****** ** ** *********** **** ****** ***/** *** **** **** *********. Seeking qualified guidance will help a buyer select the right technology options for their needs and budget. [emphasis added]
*** ******** ** *** ******* **** "licensed/certified *********" ***** ** *********, ****** note **** "** ****** ********* **** licensing ************ *** ************* ******* ** the ************ ** ******** *** ***** systems."
Cybersecurity *********
****** ******** ********, ***** ******* **** also **** ***** ** ******* ** systems ***** *** ******* ******** ********.
** ************'* ***** ************* ******** *** vary ********* ** *** **** *** needs; ***** ****** ******** **** ******* take * ************* ******** ** ************* that ******** ********** ********** *** ***** given *********.
** **** ***, ******* **** ****** "comprehensive ******* ************* ********," ***** *** reviewed *** ******* ** ***** ********. To ******* *****, ***** ********** ********* the**** ************* *********, ** ********* ***** ** ************* measures *** *** ** ********* **** published ** *** ******** ********* ** Standards *** ************.
******** **** ******* * **** ***** of ************* ********, ********* "********** ** prevent ******* *** ****** ***********," *** "recovery (** ***********) ** ** ******* and/or ****" ****** * ****** ** other ***** *****," *** *** ******* would ***** *********** ** ******* **** discover **** *** ** **********.
******** ********** ********** **** ****, ***** does ******* * *** ******** ************* measures.
******** ********** ******** **** ** ******* and ******* "******* ******** *******." **** ensures *** ********** ** ******** ******** cyber ***************, **** ** ***** ******** ****** ** *** *********. ********* **** **** ******* "********** software/hardware **********" ** ******* ******* ******* or *********.
****** ** ** ******* **** ** through ************ ******** ******** **** ****** robust **************, ********* "******* ***** ********* or ***********, ********* ************, *** ********** ID *****," *** *****-****** ************** ** "preferred."
**** ********** **** ** ********** ***** on *** ***** ** * ******'* job, *** ********** "******** ** * regular ***** ** ****** ****** ** sensitive ******* ** ***** ** *** requirements."
**** **** ** ****** **. ***** recommends ***** ** ** ***** "**** a ****."
********* **** **** * ****** "** identify ************ ****** ** ** *******/**** or ***** ** ******** *** ********** including ******** ****** ** ******** *******," though ***** **** *** ******* **** kind ** ******.
*******, ******* "**** ********* **** *** security ** ***** ** **************," ********* vulnerability *****, ******** *** **** *****, etc., *** "********** ******* **** ** implemented ** **** ** ********."
No ******* ** *** **** ***
*** *** ** *** ********** **** ***** *** ********** ******** *****. ***** the ***, ******* ******** *** ********** from ********** ***** ** ********* ***** surveillance *********, *** ** **** *** address ************ ** ******* ******** **** CTPAT. ***** ******* ***** ** ******** security ***** ***** ** ************* ** security *********, ***** **** *** ********* that **** ***** *** ******** ******.
Requires * "******* ****" *******
** ********* *** ************ *** *** above ******** **********, ***** *******' ******* cannot ** ****** ** * *******'* security **********. *** ******* ** ** be * ***** ******* ******:
****** ***** ******** *** * **** broader ***** **** *********** ******** ********. It ** *********** **** ********, ** many *********** **** ** ***** *********, Information **********, *** ******/****** *******. ****** Chain ******** ******** ***** ** * more ***********, ******** **********-***** ***** *** be **** ******.
*** ******** ***** **** **** *** executive ***-**:
*** * ***** ******’* ****** ***** security ******* ** ****** *** ****** effective, ** **** **** *** ******* of * *******’* ***** **********. ********** security ** ** ******** **** ** a *******’* ******* *** ******** **** it ** * ******* **** ******** is ** ***** **** *** ************** of *** *******’* **********.
************, *** ******* ****** ********** * "security ******," ***** ******** * ********* "signed ** * ****** ******* ******** and ********* ** *********** ******* *********."
********* **** ******* * **** *** reviewing ******** ********** ********* ** ****** "personnel *** **** *********** *** ***** responsibilities *** *** ******** **********...*** ***** carried *** ** ********."
Update (**/**/**)
**** ******* *** ** ** ******* and ****** ****** (***) *** ******* as ** ******* ***** ********* ** discourages *** ******** ***** ************ ****** like ***** ** *********, ***** **** they ********* ** ******* ***************** * ********/***** ******** ******, *** ***** *****’* ******** ** the *** **** "******** ** ****** a *******’* *********** ********** (**) *** data *** ** ********* **********."
***** ** ***'* ********. **** *** not ****** *** *****, ******** ** "comment ** ******* *********," ******* ********* determine ********** *** ***** ** ***** products ****** ***** ********. *******, ** would ** ************ ** *** ****** specific ************ ** *** ****** ******* using ******* *** ******, **** ** Dahua ** *********, ***** *** ******** ban ** ******* ******** ************* ***-******* ************* ******.
*** *******-***** *********** ******* ********* (*****) program ** * ********* *********** ******* with ******* ** *** ***** ********* to ********** ************* ****** ****** *** improve ****** ****** **************. ** *********** CTPAT, ******** ***** **** ** ********* with *** ** ******* *** ****** chain, ******** ******** ****, *** ********* specific ******** ******** *** **** ********* and ******* ** ** ** *** result ** ********** ** ******* **** the *******. *** ******** ********, *** does *** ******* ** ******* ********* of *** ******* ** *** ****** of *** ************.
Update (**/**/**)
**** ******* *** ** ** ******* and ****** ****** (***) *** ******* as ** ******* ***** ********* ** discourages *** ******** ***** ************ ****** like ***** ** *********, ***** **** they ********* ** ******* ***************** * ********/***** ******** ******, *** ***** *****’* ******** ** the *** **** "******** ** ****** a *******’* *********** ********** (**) *** data *** ** ********* **********."
***** ** ***'* ********. **** *** not ****** *** *****, ******** ** "comment ** ******* *********," ******* ********* determine ********** *** ***** ** ***** products ****** ***** ********. *******, ** would ** ************ ** *** ****** specific ************ ** *** ****** ******* using ******* *** ******, **** ** Dahua ** *********, ***** *** ******** ban ** ******* ******** ************* ***-******* ************* ******.