U.S. CUSTOMS SERVICE PROPOSES REWARDS FOR IMPORTERS WITH ENHANCED SECURITY

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Customs Service, moving to bolster the nation's
defenses against smuggled biological or nuclear weapons, will propose a
major overhaul in its dealings with importers, rewarding companies that
beef up their security systems.

Customs wants importers to establish a secure shipping network all the way
from a product's origin abroad to the U.S. port that is its destination. As
a reward for undertaking the effort -- and paying all related expenses --
participating businesses will be able to move goods more quickly across
U.S. borders, customs officials said.

"I certainly would contemplate that we would have expedited processing or
no processing whatsoever at the border point for companies enrolled in the
partnership against terrorism," Customs Service Commissioner Robert Bonner
said.

The offer will be laid out Tuesday in an agency conference here for U.S.
importers. Many of the major U.S. firms that rely on imports, including the
automobile and electronics industries, are expected to send representatives.

"Obviously, companies would be monitored to some degree by the U.S. Customs
Service, but really we would be looking for a substantial level of
voluntary security compliance" by participating firms, Mr. Bonner said.
"For companies that did that, I would envision the fast lane through the
border or seaports."

An acceleration in the movement of goods would be a welcome development for
trading businesses, who have faced unprecedented delays at the borders
following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

The proposal is part of a larger Bush administration push to alter
fundamentally the relationship between government and business by enlisting
major companies as partners and sometimes even proxies -- often at the
businesses' expense.

The Treasury's wooing of shippers closely parallels its actions with the
financial-services industry, from which the administration is seeking
unprecedented levels of help in tracking down the assets of terrorist groups.

Mr. Bonner's initiative would build on the agency's existing Industry
Partnership Programs, the first of which was launched in 1984. In those
plans, companies enter into formal agreements with Customs allowing the
agency to review closely their security operations and provide training and
other guidance. He noted that improvements in the customs-inspection
process have been considered for several years, but the September attacks
spurred the agency to take action now against a possible follow-up strike
with a weapon of mass destruction smuggled in by car, truck or cargo plane.

Under the new proposal, Mr. Bonner said, the programs will be revamped to
be more comprehensive, as well as more focused on terrorism instead of
drugs. It also will feature an unprecedented level of reciprocity from the
government in speeding goods across borders.

Shippers said improvements are likely to be greatest for importers who ship
from only a single neighboring country such as Mexico or Canada -- where
verification of security is easiest -- and who don't face strict import quotas.