[A-List] US imperialism: Europe

["Michael Keaney" <michael.keaney@xxxxxx>]

US officials to be posted to UK ports
By Toby Shelley in London
Ft.com, Last Updated: October 30 2002

The government will in November announce a deal to post US customs officials
in UK ports. The agreement follows pressure by America on trading partners
after the September 11 attacks, to bolster US port security by transferring
risk assessment overseas.

Details are being finalised but the agreement is certain with a formal
announcement of a signing date likely in a fortnight, according to a customs
and excise official. US officers could then be in place "almost
immediately".

US customs officials will operate as observers alongside their British
counterparts at Felixstowe and Southampton container terminals. The
terminals at Liverpool and Thamesport may also be included.

UK customs says there is a precedent for the deal. US immigration officers
have been posted at Heathrow to reduce queuing at major US airports.

Customs authorities in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and France signed
similar agreements with the US over the summer. There, US officers assess
information about each container and request searches or carry out scans.

The US has drawn up a list of 20 ports worldwide from which most inbound
containers originate and where it wanted new security measures. Felixstowe
was the only UK port on the list. However, other UK container terminals were
concerned that their exports would face extra scrutiny and hence delays in
the US if they were not included in an arrangement.

John Dempster, of the UK Major Ports Group, said now that fears over parity
of treatment had been allayed, it was important to ensure UK ports were not
left behind European competitors.

Container traffic is seen as posing a major potential security threat
whether in the form of a 'bomb in a box' or as a means of transporting
material.

In 2001, some 7.8m containers of import cargo moved through US ports. The
proposal to post officers overseas was part of the US customs Container
Security Initiative that irked many in the European transport industry who
wanted a more multilateral approach.