Interested in spending more time on shipping and less on border delays? In the age of global trading, your reputation as a company will be focused on security practices and getting your goods across the border with fewer inspections and expedited border clearances.
The recent Partners in Protection (“PIP”) Newsletter confirmed as at January 1, 2012, there were 1,449 PIP Members in Canada. With the recent announcements with the U.S. for a “shared vision for perimeter security”, PIP has also confirmed that 78% of all PIP Members are already C-TPAT (Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism) Certified as well.
Is it necessary? For some, yes! PIP Membership is a necessity for eligibility into certain programs. As a PIP Member you are committed to supply chain security, and the benefits include:
- Eligibility to apply to the FAST Program;
- Eligibility to the Low Value Shipment Program;
- Enhanced reputation as being a low-risk company;
- Fewer border delays; and
- Expedited clearances
As the United States and Canada have agreed to a shared vision for perimeter security, we can expect that perimeter security to slowly become more harmonized.
What does that mean exactly? To start, an initiative has been announced for the C-TPAT and PIP Programs. Other programs will become more integrated such as the Trusted Trader Program and Partners in Compliance (under the Customs Self Assessment).
Of the 1,449 PIP Members in Canada, 62% of those are highway carriers. The benefits of expedited border clearances and fewer inspections combined with the enhanced reputation can provide you with a competitive advantage, as well as position your organization to be internationally recognized.
Pacific Customs Brokers is pleased to provide a PIP and C-TPAT informative seminar on March 29, 2012, which will provide you with details about the applications and the membership processes. The seminar information and registration will be posted shortly on the Trade Compliance Seminar Schedule.
A cross-border update luncheon will be held in the border city of Ferndale, WA on February 24 to promote the Canada/USA partnership in the Pacific Corridor.
In a situation where a commodity is invoiced as a single transaction and it is an oversize shipment such as: a large building and or machinery that cannot physically be moved on one truck, Canada Border Services Agency has a provision to handle multi-load moves with one invoice value. The industry terminology for this type of special entry is a Prime and Entered to Arrive (ETA) entry. In these cases, the entire quantity of goods will be accounted for when the first shipment arrives, and the remainder will be processed as paper release package for each load to follow.