PHILADELPHIA, April 27, 2004 — BDP International, through its BDP Interamerica, LLC partner in Laredo, Tex., played a key role in promoting the Free and Secure Trade (FAST) program to expedite trade between the U.S. and Mexico.
BDP Interamerica coordinated the initial shipment under the program from Laredo to Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, acting as the Mexican Customs broker as well as handling the drayage for Phelps Dodge Wire & Cable Trading Co. de Mexico, S.A. de C.V.
For shipments over the FAST lane, the importer had to be certified by Mexican Customs which requires identifying the customs broker and carrier, as well as meeting a defined monetary value of imports and exports. In addition, the drayage company, in this case a member of the Fernandez Hinojosa group, had to have authorization from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the driver a FAST license. Certification required signing a letter of commitment for the U.S. Customs-Trade Partnership against Terrorism (C-TPAT) and an extensive background check on the driver.
More than 30 businesses have already registered to use the Laredo FAST lane, which is expected to reduce wait time at Customs from two hours to less than 20 minutes. Each year, $13.7 billion of vehicles, $2.6 billion in auto parts and $1.9 billion of telecommunication-related items pass through the inland ports of Laredo and Nuevo Laredo.
Mexico Customs Administrator General Jose Guzman-Montalvo said, “The Mexican Customs fully supports the U.S. FAST program. Not only because it provides greater security to the supply chain but also because it expedites exports from Mexican companies to the U.S.”
Michael J. Ford, vice president of regulatory compliance and quality for BDP International, added, “BDP has a long history of being at the forefront of international trade initiatives, among them the C-TPAT program, Operation Safe Commerce, the automated export system, remote location filing and automated broker interface. This is the most recent example of how, partnering with the government, we take a leadership role in facilitating global trade while safeguarding both the U.S. and our trading partners against terrorist threats.”
FAST is an expedited clearance program for known low-risk shipments. Under FAST, Mexico and the U.S. have agreed to harmonize their processes for clearance of commercial shipments. The program uses risk-management principles, supply chain security, industry partnerships and advanced technology to improve efficiency in screening and clearing commercial traffic at the U.S.-Mexican border. By implementing CBP-approved security measures, FAST participants demonstrate that their facilities e secure and their shipments are low-risk.
For further information in Europe, South America and North America, contact:
Arnie Bornstein,
Director - Marketing and Corporate Communications,
BDP International, Inc..
Phone: 215-629-8493
fax: 215-629-8995
e-mail: abornstein@bdpnet.com
Media Contact:
Henry Raab
For BDP International
610-866-0611
hraab@swb.com
About BDP
BDP International is one of the leading privately held freight logistics / transportation management firms in the U.S. It operates freight logistics centers in more than 20 cities throughout North America and a network of subsidiaries, joint ventures and strategic partnerships in 140 countries. The company serves more than 4,000 customers worldwide. Clients include Bayer, Dow Chemical Company, DuPont, Heineken USA, Honeywell, Johnson & Johnson, Osram Sylvania, Revlon, Rohm & Haas, Trek Bicycle, Wacker, and others. BDP provides a range of services, including ocean, air and ground transportation; 4PL lead logistics process analysis, design and management; export freight forwarding; import customs brokerage and regulatory compliance; project logistics; warehousing/consolidation/distribution; and Internet shipping transaction/tracking management systems.
