U.S. Relations With the People's Republic of China (2008)

CBP Conducts Second Round of C-TPAT Validations in China

China, United States Cooperation Continues to Validate 15 C-TPAT Companies

(Monday, November 17, 2008)

Washington – U.S. Customs and Border Protection and China Customs concluded a second round of joint supply chain security validation visits this week.

Supply Chain Specialists assigned to the Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism Program supported this effort which involved validating 15 C-TPAT companies and their manufacturing facilities located in China. China Customs officials conducted the validations with the support of C-TPAT specialists. This effort follows on several joint validations conducted with China Customs in March of this year.

Prior to commencing the joint validations, CBP met with China Customs counterparts to provide technical assistance regarding supply chain security procedures and to share experiences and best practices regarding conducting supply chain security evaluations.

According to C-TPAT Director Bradd Skinner, "This second round of joint validation visits is an important accomplishment and an indication of our increased working relationship with China Customs to secure international commerce." Mr. Skinner also added that "This effort will increase the level of security of importations into the United States as well as lead to fewer exams which will benefit C-TPAT importers and their business partners in China. We look forward to continuing this important bi-lateral cooperation next year."

The C-TPAT validation process is designed to assess the security of foreign stuffing locations to ensure that security measures comply with the C-TPAT criteria. C-TPAT has conducted more than 9,800 initial and re-validations since its inception including over 3,000 validations to date in calendar year 2008.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Contacts For This News Release

no address available at this time
Jenny Burke
Technology, SBInet and Cargo Security
Phone: (202) 344-1780
Fax: (202) 344-1393

CBP Headquarters
Office of Public Affairs
1300 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.
Room 3.4A
Washington, DC 20229
Phone: (202) 344-1770 or (800) 826-1471
Fax: (202) 344-1393