C-TPAT

QUESTION: Regarding sending a questionnaire to your supply base – Foreign suppliers only, or both Foreign and Domestic suppliers? We have only 5-10 foreign suppliers, and perhaps 100 domestic. Since CTPAT is focused on imports, can we get away with only sending the questionnaires to our foreign suppliers – and will that be sufficient for […]

QUESTION: Have a question regarding different Tier class of CTPAT. Is there a way if you are Tier 1, you can get to Tier 2 or 3. Also is it possible if CTPAT can downgrade you if you do not meet the annual requirements of CTPAT. ========== Answers: Tier 1 means you have been accepted […]

QUESTION: Curious to know if any of the members who are C-TPAT certified as an importer, see that this “benefit” is assisting them if recently (in the past 2 weeks) crossing trucks from Mexico to the U.S. Getting conflicting stories from various sources. I know CBP staff is reduced at many ops for the current […]

QUESTION: Does anyone have any updates on the new changes to CTPAT program for 2020. Any webinars or materials that covers all the new changes? ************ Answers: At the C-TPAT Conference last year in Orlando, CBP had committed to releasing all the material/presentations used into the C-TPAT portal/document library but have seen nothing. ************* Nothing […]

QUESTION: What are the pains and/or gains withdrawing from C-TPAT? ========== Answers: I would say there are no gains, other than you no longer have to dedicate resources to assure all items are kept up to date and documented on the portal. Why give it up once you have it? This country is not becoming […]

QUESTION: Does anyone have any experience with having a foreign national managing the CTPAT program and acting as the POC for an importer? If there is acceptable Senior Management support and oversight, will Customs have any issues with this? I do not see anything in the MSC or any other documents requiring the POC to […]

QUESTION: I wanted to ask the importer’s community if there is any company out there that has already put the CBP’s revamped minimum security criteria (importer version) into Excel format from the PDF and nice enough to share with me. If you are willing, I would really appreciate it! ================= ANSWER: http://www.icpainc.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/CTPAT-MSCs.xlsx ================================================================

QUESTION: We are looking at obtaining out C-TPAT certification in the U.S.  In order to use the FAST lane, I understand all parties need to be certified (Mexican entity, cartage agent, driver, etc.).  Our Mexican factory is under a shelter program which is certified under mutual recognition program OEA.  The shelter company has approximately 75 […]

QUESTION: Is customs targeting any specific area for this years C-TPAT security profile upload? ========== Answer: As I am sure you have seen over the years, CBP’s SCSS’ are learning much over time and sharing more “best practices” and minimum expectations amongst themselves.  This results overall in a more robust CTPAT program and verifications (trust […]

QUESTION: I am looking for CTPAT guidance on setting up a program for direct delivery to US customers from our plants in Mexico.  Some customers are CTPAT certified, some are not. Questions: 1. Do you require receiving documentation, for example a conveyance inspection report, from your customers once they unload the cargo?  What do you […]

QUESTION: We are a C-TPAT certified US importer with a (related party) plant in Mexico. The plant in Mexico is also C-TPAT certified. About 40% of our annual imports come from this plant. I have just found out that they are 9 months overdue on submitting their C-TPAT security profile. What are the possible consequences […]