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The first round of talk between the
Malaysian and US government on the
US Customs Security Initiative (CSI)
that seeks to place US Customs
officials at Port Klang and
Pelabuhan Tanjung Pelepas was held
in Kuala Lumpur this week.
This follows request by Malaysian
government that discussions be
initiated as soon as possible with a
view to signing the CSI agreement to
avoid any disruption to the trade.
According to government sources
talks were with the Ministry of
Transport as well as the Royal
Malaysian Customs to pave the way
for US Customs services to station
officials at the two Malaysian ports
to oversee inspection of US-bound
containers.
The talks with Malaysia follow the
recent conclusion of similar
agreement with Singapore and Hong
Kong that signed the CSI aimed at
enhancing global maritime security.
US has concluded similar agreement
with a number of European countries
including the Netherlands, France,
Belgium, Germany while it is in
advanced stage of negotiations with
UK and Italy.
In Asia the CSI agreements are also
expected to be signed with China and
Japan to station US Custom officials
at designated Japanese and Chinese
ports.
Major issues that are expected to
feature in the bilateral discussions
include sovereignty and
jurisdictional matters as well as
the cost that might to be borne in
the light of enhanced security
measures, including the need for
proper container examination or
x-ray machines.
Meanwhile, a taskforce of the
world's leading customs authorities
met in Brussels last week to examine
ways of protecting global supply
chains from terrorists and organised
crime.
The expert forum of the World
Customs Organisation considered the
standardised data needed to identify
high-risk cargo while still
streamlining legitimate trade.
The task force of meeting comprised
100 delegates from 40 WCO member
countries of which Malaysia is also
a member.
WCO, representing 161 customs
authorities worldwide, voted in June
to set up the task force as
commanded by the G8 leaders summit
looking at transport security
post-September 11.
The task force focused on inland
data collection, and less on the
contentious Container Security
Initiative launched by US Customs.
The bilateral CSI allows US Customs
officers to be based overseas at
major container ports to
co-ordinate, but not conduct,
inspections of outbound boxes
destined for North America.
Meanwhile, the US Customs Attache in
Singapore Peter R Gravas will give a
first hand account of the US
initiatives on global maritime
security at the 1st Asia Maritime &
Logistics Conference in Kuala Lumpur
today.
He will be one of the speakers at
the Malaysian Shipowners Organised
conference that has also invited
speakers from the International
Maritime Organisation and the World
Shipping Council to speak on issues
relating to maritime security.
The two day conference is open by
the Minister of Transport Minister
Datuk Seri Dr Ling Liong Sik.
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