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William Brooks>> Unified cargo processing, also known as UCP, is
a concept that was spearheaded out of Arizona. The concept has Mexican
Customs Officers working side by side with U.S. Customs officers
on the United States side to jointly inspect
and process shipments of cargo destined for the United States.
We initially started with the inbound to the United States
and later expanded it to outbound cargo into Mexico.
The concept was immediately embraced by Trade. They’ve seen a reduction in transaction costs from
their shipments from Mexico into the United States as well as the United States back into Mexico.
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This prototype is, without a doubt, a very important project.
It benefits the user directly by time and cost savings.
It recognizes the users in whom we have more confidence,
more interaction among our international trade operations,
that is to say, those companies certified under CT-PAT or under NEEC.
We’ve demonstrated solid benefits for our users in the
short period of time that it has been implemented.
First, since the program initiated in Nogales, we have a reported time savings of close to three hours.
On the other hand, we have initiated the project in Agua Prieta and have also seen important time Savings.
If we continue replicating this initiative, this project in different Ports of Entry,
we will have more benefits to strengthen and consolidate the trade exchange between both countries.
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Prior to cargo destined to the United States arriving at the
border, both CBP and SAT receive advance information from
the trade about the shipment. This information is reviewed
to ensure there are no merchandise admissibility issues.
Upon approaching the border, non UCP shipments are directed into
the SAT facility to be processed and possibly examined.
However, UCP shipments bypass the SAT facility and enter a dedicated lane
that allows the shipment to proceed unencumbered to CBP primary.
While at primary, CBP and SAT officials review the appropriate documentation and determine if the
shipment may proceed into the commerce of the United States or if further examination is necessary.
If no issues exist, the driver and truck are released and the commodity is allowed to
enter the commerce of the United States and is ready for sale or use by the importer.
In the event that an issue is discovered, the shipment is sent for a secondary examination.
CBP and SAT conduct joint inspections of all UCP shipments that have been targeted for examination.
By conducting joint inspections, UCP eliminates the possibility of a shipment
being inspected twice and allows for all issues to be resolved at a single point.
Once the examination is completed, the merchandise is released into the commerce of the United States.
for consumption as long as no law enforcement actions such as seizure or detention are required.
For cargo destined to Mexico, information regarding the shipment
arriving at the border is sent electronically in advance to CBP and SAT.
Upon arriving at the dedicated southbound UCP primary booth,
the driver presents all the relevant documentation to the CBP and SAT officials.
If there are no concerns during a review of the documentationthe shipment may proceed into Mexico.
Upon entering Mexico, the shipment bypasses the SAT import facility and proceeds to a dedicated
non-intrusive inspection site where it is x-rayed
and then released into the commerce of Mexico.
A shipment destined for Mexico that is targeted for examination is
referred to the Secondary inspection site at the U.S. port of entry.
During the Secondary inspection,
CBP and SAT work together to address any law enforcement concerns,
trade compliance or other issues prior to
allowing the merchandise to proceed into Mexico.
Another aspect of UCP is Rail operations
Rail shipments are inspected by CBP in conjunction with SAT Officials as they enter and exit the U.S.
Any needed inspections are completed by both agencies in one examination.
If no issues exist the merchandise is released either into Mexico or into the United States.
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Unified Cargo Processing, UCP, was started in Nogales at the Mariposa Port of Entry.
The concept was rolled out to the Douglas Port of Entry and also to the San Luis Port of Entry.
There is a push to expand the same process to other ports of entry along the Mexico/ U.S. border.
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The final objective of this model is, without doubt, to boost international trade.
But also, it is our responsibility to work towards national security.
The objective of any customs administration is to achieve legal trade,
a trade that is agile and that incentivizes the economies,
but we also achieve the central point of our obligation,
that is to protect our borders, protect our countries and
achieve the national security required by our Nations.
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