By Calvin Biesecker
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano yesterday said that DHS and the World Customs Organization (WCO) are partnering to strengthen the security of the global supply chain in three main areas.
The three areas highlighted for improved international cooperation with other countries and groups include preventing terrorist attacks through the use of the supply chain to transport potentially dangerous materials, identifying and protecting the most critical elements of the supply chain, such as transportation hubs, and strengthening its resiliency, Napolitano said at a speech at the European Policy Center in Brussels.
“A consumer here in Brussels can go online and buy a gift that is assembled in Mexico, from parts that were manufactured in China, flown across the Atlantic, and inspected at a port in the U.K. before finally arriving by rail and truck at its final destination here in Brussels,” she said in her prepared remarks. “This complex supply chain that consumers and businesses in the U.S. and around the world rely on every day illustrates our interconnected nature and our vulnerability to those who may seek to disrupt global commerce.”
Napolitano’s outreach to DHS’ international partners was welcomed by the WCO.
Kunio Mikuriya, secretary general of the WCO, said that air cargo security incidents late last year show the need for “international cooperation in enhancing trade security using a risk management approach.”
To better prevent terrorists from transporting dangerous goods via the supply chain, Napolitano pointed to several areas that need expanded focus, such as international standards, “joint investigations and interdiction operations, and strengthening how we target and screen potentially dangerous shipments across the globe.”
For example, Napolitano noted that last year DHS, the WCO, the United Nations and Interpol launched Project Global Shield, which involves over 60 countries sharing information on the export of 14 precursor chemicals used in improvised explosive devices. The information sharing allows countries to make sure that chemicals being imported are being used safely and also helps them determine if any of the chemical shipments are missing, she said.
This year, DHS and its international partners will work to expand Global Shield to other countries, she said.
Napolitano also pointed to the need to continue developing and deploying advanced technologies that can track and detect “precursor chemicals” and to help other countries with technical assistance and training.
Napolitano mentioned her visit to Afghanistan last week where she discussed ways to improve the ability of civilian law enforcement to control these chemicals that come into the country. She added that this year that DHS will further expand its international footprint of aviation and customs officers to help countries security the global supply chain.
In the United States, Napolitano said that President Obama has signed an Executive Order that will lead to the establishment of a new “center to coordinate all U.S. government exports regarding the issue of potentially dangerous exports.” Moreover, she said, the United States is working to establish regulations to “implement a government-wide statistical tracking system for export control enforcement activities.”
As for better protecting critical components of the supply chain, Napolitano said that the United States must help its foreign partners with the relevant training and technology here. In addition, she pointed to ongoing efforts with the private sector and international partners to obtain more advance information about shipments before being loaded onto planes, ships and trucks to better identify and screen based on risk factors.
To bolster resiliency across the global supply chain, DHS will “link” its plans for recovering from trade disruption with its international partners, she said.