4. United States response

4.5. Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT)

1

What it does

A voluntary trade partnership program in which supply chain parties commit to security standards in exchange for trade facilitation benefits.

2

When it applies

All modes of transport.

3

Who is responsible

Importers, carriers, customs brokers, freight forwarders, and other supply chain parties that choose to participate.

4

Status

Voluntary; the largest US trade-government partnership program.

CTPAT encourages supply chain parties to improve security and rewards them with benefits such as reduced cargo examinations. The basic process is:

01 Sign agreement

with CBP to cooperate, assess and improve security

02 Self-assessment

by applicant against Security Guidelines

03 Application  

(file Security Profile)

04 Certification

after background investigation and document review (Tier 1)

05 Validation

after on-site assessments, including at foreign locations (Tier 2)

06 Compliance

with additional guidelines (Tier 3)

07 Periodic re-assessment and revalidation every 4 years

The 2024 CTPAT Impact Report states that the program now has 10,869 partners, with 2,407 validations completed in 2024. Membership remains voluntary, but companies that have not joined are likely to find it more difficult to partner with companies certified under CTPAT or other World Customs Organization (WCO) accredited security programs (Authorized Economic Operator).

 

Further Reading: CTPAT 2024 Impact report

The latest CTPAT Impact report is available at CTPAT 2024 Impact Report