Maritime and Air Security Highlights from APEC's Second STAR Conference
The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) held its second Secure Trade in APEC Region (STAR) Conference on March 5 & 6, 2004 in Via del Mar, Chile. Among other issues, the conference's agenda covered maritime security and air transportation security.
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(The White House has previously stated that the STAR Initiative complements the transport security initiative President Bush secured at the G-8 Kananaskis Summit in June 2002, as well as the smart border programs he has launched with Mexico and Canada. See ITT's Online Archives or 10/31/02 news, 02103110, for BP summary of the APEC STAR initiative.)
Highlights of Agreements Made on Maritime Security With Respect to ISPS Code, Etc.
According to the STAR Conference's General Coordinator's summary conclusions (STAR conclusions), experts and representatives who attended a session on Maritime Security deemed that it is in economies' own interest to see that their neighbors and trading partners also proceed to meet the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code requirements, which are scheduled to go into force on July 1, 2004.
In addition, the STAR conclusions note that broad interest was expressed towards a proposal from a private sector company that suggested the use of a financial clearinghouse mechanism as a vehicle for both increasing security as well as supply chain visibility.
Highlights of Agreements Made With Respect to Air Transportation Security
The STAR Conference's Working Group on Air Transportation Security held a session on threats to civil aviation and security measures which agreed that there is a need to strengthen: cargo security programs for shipper legitimacy, air cargo data validation system, and identification of high-risk cargos by means of effective canine detection services.
At this session, it was also agreed that programs that were set up in compliance with Aviation and Transportation Security Act (ATSA) standards require the verification of known shipper legitimacy via the known shipper database and then follow up with random inspection of shipments.
In addition, the session agreed upon the following recommendations (partial list): (1) develop a comprehensive plan for an air cargo security system based on International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards that balance security and trade facilitation and that do not impose additional burden on the regulators, and (2) consider adopting air cargo security measures, such as surveillance and monitoring, strengthening and hardening cockpit structure, control of cargo handling, and presence of air marshal officers.
(APEC member economies include: Australia, New Zealand, United States, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Chile, Peru, Russia, and Viet Nam.)
STAR Conclusions available via email, by emailing documents@brokerpower.com