"Unrealistic, unworkable, and vague" are the words used by the National Industrial Transportation League (NITL) in a December 3 letter to US Customs criticizing new proposals for the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) program.
Although NITL has supported the program in the past, the association said that new proposals have garnered concern from its members.
The League specifically focused on new proposals that address risk assessments; mandatory versus voluntary requirements; business partnership requirements; container security; and other security requirements.
NITL also is concerned because it believes that the new proposals are more akin to mandatory obligations and are intended to hold the importer more accountable for the security of its supply chain, which means that significant liability concerns are created.
NITL expressed its opinions in a letter to the Customs and Border Protection December 3.
C-TPAT is a joint government-business initiative designed to build cooperative relationships that strengthen overall security for the supply chain at border crossings.
For the complete text of the letter, click here.