Spring 2006 Course Description
Policy Research Project
This course fulfills requirements for the following specialization(s):
- International Affairs
- Natural Resources and the Environment
- Public Management and Leadership
Description: This Congressional Research Service (CRS)-funded policy research project will examine the institutional, legal and policy arrangements that other countries have undertaken to secure their borders. Of particular interest will be the Customs regimes of selected countries around the globe and the supply-chain security apparatuses that have been established for inspecting and securing cross-border cargo involved international trade. The role of international organizations, such as the World Customs Organization and the International Maritime Organization, also will be examined. The resulting case studies will be of assistance to policymakers as the United States engages the Customs agencies of foreign countries to assist the U.S. with programs designed to ?push borders outward? to secure cargo before it is loaded on U.S.-bound vessels.
In addition, the CRS research project will examine various aspects of the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (otherwise known as C-TPAT). Initiated in April 2002, C-TPAT offers importers of cargo expedited processing if they comply with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency requirements for securing their entire supply chain that includes transport companies, customs brokers, manufacturers, importers, freight forwarders, and seaports. C-TPAT, a voluntary program, has become a key component of CPB?s security enhancements in the post-9/11 environment and, therefore, is of significant interest to the Congress.
Issues to be addressed include:
? the nature of benefits accruing to participating C-TPAT members
? the nature of penalties for non-compliance with C-TPAT guidelines
? the quality/comprehensiveness of the C-TPAT validation process
? the interaction between C-TPAT and other Customs-sponsored programs
? possible ?metrics? by which to measure the success/progress/failure of the
C-TPAT program
The first part of this policy research project may well involve both domestic and foreign travel to interview officials of international organizations and Customs agencies. The examination of C-TPAT may involve designing and conducting a comprehensive survey of major importers who participate in C-TPAT at various levels.
Return to Spring 2006 Course Schedule
