Japan Implements CSI

Container Security Initiative (CSI) is expected to be operational at the port of Yokohama, Japan, for cargo containers destined for U.S. ports on March 24. CBP and the Japanese Customs and Tariff Bureau sealed a CSI declaration of principles on September 26, 2002. The port of Yokohama is the 10th CSI port to become operational. It joins the already operational CSI ports of Rotterdam, LeHavre, Bremerhaven, Hamburg, and Antwerp in Europe, Singapore in Asia, and Vancouver, Montreal, and Halifax in Canada. "CSI is essential to securing global trade against terrorist exploitation. The CSI security blanket is now expanding and strengthening as it encompasses the port of Yokohama," said Commissioner Bonner. "We are getting CSI implemented in all of the ports that have signed on. We will continue to deploy teams to other participating ports as quickly as possible." As part of the CSI program, U.S. Customs and Border Protection has deployed a small team of 4 CBP officers stationed at the port of Yokohama to work targeting cargo containers destined for the United States. Japanese Customs officials, working with CBP officers, will be responsible for screening any containers identified as a potential terrorist risk. "CSI is also reciprocal. CBP offers CSI-participating countries the opportunity to send their customs officers to our major ports to target cargo that is exported to their country via ocean containers," Commissioner Bonner said. "CBP will also share its intelligence and pre-arrival information on a bilateral basis with its CSI partners. Sharing of information is intended to be a reciprocal process." Japanese customs personnel will be stationed at the port of Los Angeles/Long Beach on April 7, 2003, targeting sea containers destined for Japan. The CSI ports of Tokyo, Nagoya, and Kobe will also become operational over the next few months. The ports of Tokyo, Nagoya, Kobe and Yokohama are among the top 20 ports of the world. Nearly eight percent of all sea containers arriving in the U.S. are shipped from these four Japanese ports.