CTPAT Trade Compliance program

The Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT) Trade Compliance program is a component of the larger CTPAT Security program that requires importers to meet all regulatory requirements of CBP and other government entities, maintain evidence of no financial debt to the United States government, and meet the annual requirements of the program.

This voluntary program includes U.S. and Canadian based importers, who have at least two years of import history, are current Tier II or Tier III security partners in good standing, and who have made a commitment of resources to assume responsibility for monitoring their own compliance. 

On August 1, 2022, the CTPAT Trade Compliance program announced the addition of six new program requirements regarding the prevention of Forced Labor within the supply chain. The six Forced Labor requirements include risk-based mapping, code of conduct, evidence of implementation, due diligence and training, remediation planning, and shared best practices. You can review the program requirements in depth in the CTPAT Trade Compliance Handbook.

CTPAT Trade Compliance has recently added three new benefits for its Trade Compliance partners. These benefits are provided in exchange for compliance with the recently updated Trade Compliance program forced labor requirements. CBP will implement these new forced labor benefits effective immediately.

The three new benefits include:

• Front of the Line Admissibility Review: CTPAT Trade Compliance partners who have shipments detained due to forced labor will have their admissibility packages prioritized for review by the appropriate Center of Excellence and Expertise (Center). The importer must assert that they are an active member CTPAT Trade Compliance program and request prioritized review at the time that supporting documentation is submitted to CBP. Upon this declaration, the Center should prioritize the processing of the package above other non-CTPAT Trade Compliance partner packages received within the Center Team or Division, to the best of their ability.
• Redelivery Hold: CTPAT Trade Compliance partners who have shipments arrive at their facility that are later determined to be held due to ties to forced labor, where redelivery is normally requested, may hold their shipments intact at their facility, rather than redelivering the goods to CBP until an admissibility determination is made or until such time that a physical inspection is required.
• Detained Withhold Release Order Shipments Move to Bonded Facility: CTPAT Trade Compliance partners who have a shipment detained by CBP due to a Withhold Release Order, will be allowed to move the goods to a bonded facility to be held intact until such time that an admissibility determination is made by CBP.

Questions regarding the CTPAT Trade Compliance program may be directed to CTPATTradeCompliance@cbp.dhs.gov.

Crane Trade Services can assist you with questions regarding this matter.  For assistance please contact CWTSConsulting@craneww.com.