For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
June 26, 2002
Fact Sheet: Cooperative G-8 Action on Transport Security
"More and more, civilized nations find ourselves on the same side
-- united by common dangers of terrorist violence and chaos."
President George W. Bush
June 1, 2002
Presidential Action
Today, President Bush secured agreement on a U.S.-driven plan
for G-8 Action on transport security.
The G-8 committed to
accelerated action on pre-screening people and cargo, increasing
security on ships, planes and trucks, and enhancing security in
airports and seaports.
The G-8 initiative will enhance transport
security through better intelligence, coordinated national efforts, and
international cooperation against terrorist threats.
This
initiative complements the 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.
The Challenge: The global transport infrastructure -- ships,
planes, ports, roads, etc. -- is the lifeblood of international
commerce. The terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, illustrated how
critical the international transport system is to our economic and
national security A key challenge arising from those attacks is to
promote the efficient and reliable movement of people and goods across
borders, while preventing the tools of transport from becoming tools of
terrorism. The challenge is critical: 48 million shipping containers
are exported and imported annually, tens of thousands of ships are
engaged in trade daily, and more than 14,000 planes are flying in the
global fleet of commercial airlines.
G-8 Plan of Action: G-8 countries account for over 50 percent of
the world's trade, approximately two-thirds of the world's passenger
aircraft fleet, and 13 of the world's 25 busiest international
airports. The U.S. proposed in March that the G-8 cooperate in
addressing these challenges by advancing key transport security
initiatives within G-8 countries, and in multilateral bodies such as
the International Civil Aviation Organization, the International
Maritime Organization, and the World Customs Organization.
Today, the G-8 agreed on a transport security action plan that
will:
Screen people and cargo for security before transit;
Increase security on ships, airplanes, and trucks while en route; and
Enhance security in airports and seaports.
Commitments include:
Collection and transmission of advance passenger information,
more secure travel and identity documents, biometrics, and reciprocal
bilateral access to departure and transit lounges;
Identification
and pre-screening of high-risk containers;
Accelerated
implementation by April 2003 of new standards for reinforced cockpit
doors and airport security audits;
Accelerated installation of
automatic identification systems on certain ships, and development of
port and ship security plans; and
Development of new measures
related to the transport of hazardous cargoes in trucks.
At the same time, the plan will facilitate the cost-effective and
efficient flow of people, cargo, and conveyances engaged in legitimate
activities. G-8 countries have agreed to promote policy coherence and
coordination in all relevant international organizations, and to review
progress every six months.
Other U.S. Efforts: The United States has been working bilaterally
and multilaterally to keep the arteries of commerce clear while
strengthening security surrounding the world's transportation
infrastructure. We have comprehensive smart border initiatives
underway with Mexico and Canada that use modern technology to enhance
security and expedite legitimate cross-border travel and commerce. We
are also working with the ports in Singapore and Rotterdam to create
cargo pre-screening programs. Singapore and Rotterdam are,
respectively, the second and sixth largest container ports in the
world.
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