CTPAT
CTPAT Letter to Suppliers: A Template That Actually Gets Answered
Your CTPAT status depends on companies that have never heard of CTPAT. Your overseas suppliers don't report to US Customs. Most have no direct...
What We Heard at the 2026 Trade and Cargo Security Summit: Wait-and-See Is Over
CBP held the 2026 Trade and Cargo Security Summit in Dallas on September 8-10, moved from its original April dates. The message to certified partners...
Is CTPAT Certification Worth It? The Real Cost of Getting In vs. Staying Out
Yes, for most importers moving real volume into the United States. CBP charges no application fee. You invest six to nine months of documentation...
Benefits of CTPAT Certification: The ROI Most Importers Never Calculate
What is CTPAT? CTPAT (Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism) is a voluntary supply chain security program run by U.S. Customs and Border...
CTPAT ROI: Estimate Your Inspection Exposure in 5 Minutes
Most Compliance Officers I talk to can quote their gross margin to two decimal places. They cannot tell me their inspection rate. That is a problem,...
Vendor Management in CTPAT: How to Ensure Overseas Factories Meet MSC Standards
A signed security questionnaire is a promise. It is not proof. And CBP doesn't accept promises.
Understanding CTPAT's Role in the Global Fight Against Cargo Theft
Here's the thing most people get wrong about CTPAT. It was never built to stop cargo theft. It was built to secure the supply chain against terrorism...
CTPAT Physical Security Requirements: Where They Collide With Your Cybersecurity Criteria
CTPAT's Minimum Security Criteria treat Physical Security, Physical Access Controls, and Cybersecurity as separate categories. In practice they run...
The New Customs Enforcement Executive Order: Who It Affects and What to Do Now
The new customs enforcement executive order just made compliance a condition of entry. Here’s who it changes everything for.
June 2026 Executive Order | Key Customs Enforcement Changes
On June 3, 2026, the White House issued an executive order for strengthening customs enforcement. Overall, this new customs executive order doesn’t...
How to Prepare for a CTPAT Audit: What Audit-Ready Actually Looks Like (The Day-Of Test)
How do you prepare for a CTPAT audit? Preparing for a CTPAT audit means building a system of record so you can pull current evidence on demand, with...