This initiative complements the transport security initiative President Bush secured at the G-8 Kananaskis Summit this June, as well as smart border programs President Bush has launched with Mexico and Canada and advances a vision of security that pushes the perimeter beyond the physical border. A number of APEC economies, encompassing most of the biggest ports in the region, have also agreed to participate in the U.S. Customs Container Security Initiative.

The Challenge: The terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, illustrated how critical the international transport system is to our economic and national security. We must promote the efficient and reliable movement of people and goods across borders, while preventing the tools of transport from becoming tools of terrorism:

APEC Plan of Action: The U.S. proposed earlier this year that APEC address this challenge by advancing secure trade initiatives. Today APEC agreed and committed to a plan of action that will:

• Identifying and examining high-risk containers, assuring in-transit integrity, and providing advance electronic information on containers to customs, port, and shipping officials as early as possible in the supply chain;
• Implementing by 2005 common standards for electronic customs reporting;
• Promoting private-sector adoption of high standards of supply chain security.

• Promoting ship and port security plans by July 2004 and installation of automatic identification systems on certain ships by December 2004;
• Cooperating to fight piracy in the region.

• Introducing new baggage screening procedures and equipment in all APEC major airports by 2005;
• Reinforcing flight deck doors for passenger aircraft by April 2003;
• Supporting International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) mandatory aviation security audits.