US to check all inbound containers

NST Logistics 20 August 2007

Exporters to US, including those from Malaysia, could face higher costs and possible delays when a new US law aimed at 100 per cent scanning of US-destined containers in foreign ports by 2012.
 
The new law, which will apply containers to undergo full examination through a radiation detector, regardless of its origin and contents, when arriving at US ports.
 
The new radiation portal monitors to be installed at all US ports will sniff out the components of either nuclear bombs or so-called “dirty bombs.”
 
The devices – described as 20-foot tall gateways that look like a football goal – are designed to detect nuclear material smuggled through ports by terrorists.
 
More than 240 of the portals are already in use at Canadian and Mexican border crossings, the news service said.
 
Eventually, customs said it plans to install the radiation portal monitors at all U.S. ports.
 
Shippers in Asia have complained that the new law would create 'gridlock' at ports and its implementation could slow down cargo and result in 'gridlock at ports and airports'.
 
Shippers are likely to bear the brunt of increased costs as carriers exploit their position of strength over shippers in this region.
 
The new law mandates 100 per cent screening of all US-destined air cargo within three years and sea cargo within five years.
 
Global Shippers Forum while supporting initiatives that will 'safely secure and protect vital trade lanes and ensure uninterrupted flows of commerce', said the new law 'a giant mistake' that will result in enormous costs to users, suppliers and ultimately consumers.
 
Worse, the shippers say the extra costs will come 'without accomplishing the very objective that the scan-all requirements are seeking to achieve'.
 
Shippers bodies also said the law 'looks distinctly like a barrier to trade', which raises questions as to whether it breaches World Trade Organization (WTO) rules.
 
Such security measures should be addressed in multilateral institutions like the World Customs Organisation or the International Maritime Organisation, noted the European Shippers Council.
 
Shippers advocate following on from the current approach, which is based on a multi-tiered risk assessment through risk analysis and targeted inspections.

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