EU and US reach customs agreement on container security

After the terrorist attacks of 11th of September, the US administration established a system of security checks for containers travelling from any other country to the US. This 'Container Security Initiative' (CSI) gave US customs agents the authority to search all containers leaving EU ports for the USA. In 2002, several EU Member States signed agreements with the US allowing for these security checks in their ports (starting with the Netherlands for Rotterdam, Belgium for Antwerp and France for Le Havre).

The Commission opposed these deals saying that it was the responsibility of the Commission to negotiate trade and customs issues with non-EU states. One of the issues under discussion was the 'reciprocity' of the agreement (EU officials to inspect containers leaving from the US to the EU). Human Rights organisations such as Statewatch also protested against the secrecy surrounding this initiative.

According to the Commission's press release from 18 November, the new agreement now signed between the EU and the US will improve security on a reciprocal basis. "The agreement will also ensure that legitimate transatlantic trade is not hindered by the increased security arrangements and that control standards are equalised for US and EU operators", the Commission stated.

The agreement, which will expand the existing 1997 agreement on customs co-operation and mutual assistance, still has to be rubber-stamped by the Council of Ministers.