1. Introduction

Security of international trade came into sharp focus following the terrorist attacks on the United States in September 2001. Governments and international bodies moved quickly to harden supply chains against terrorism and related criminal activity, and the response shaped the customs and trade environment that freight forwarders work in today.

This module covers the building blocks of a supply chain and how international terrorism reshaped cross-border trade. It then walks through the layered programs that followed: US measures including CTPAT, the Container Security Initiative, advance manifest reporting, and TSA air cargo rules; international frameworks led by the WCO, IMO, and ICAO; and regional responses from the European Union and APEC. The closing sections set out how Customs and business each contribute to securing global trade.