 Counterfeiting and other trade risks are plaguing the U.S. Congress, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the Health and Human Services (HHS) department. Intellectual Property protection advocacy groups have initiatives that each see components of the problem, but do add further protections to brands, product safety and the revenues of the companies that develop products.
DHS and other government agencies have a more aggressive pursuit of technologies for trade and security solutions, with funding this year from stimulus money, and the Obama administration's push from the President's first days in office to get more done on homeland security and reducing risk in our imports.
Highlights of what's going on:
· DHS has several technology initiatives focused on border security in the Borders and Maritime Security Division. Technology firms should be interested in these and other DHS activities!
· Department of Commerce - the ongoing C-TPAT Program and 10+2 Rule - implemented by most transportation solutions providers and freight forwarders. Exporters lag in their compliance, though.
· Office of the United States Trade Representative - Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) summary of key elements under discussion.
Going paperless in global trade import and export can provide a single source of data for shippers and carriers and allows an exporter to ensure that they really have the requisite filing data for all the various programs. EU Customs Union Security Filing program is scheduled to go live on January 1, 2011. And the US has just issued new integration guidelines, the so-called 2010 ISF "10+2" rule, which went live in January 2010.
Transportation solution providers such as GT Nexus and Descartes Systems are up to speed on current requirements.
Trade policy will drive the funding of many of these initiatives. You can get President Obama's trade policy here.
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