Israel is expected to sign within three weeks a declaration of principles committing itself to participate in the overseas inspection program
Jayson Ahern, an assistant commissioner for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, said last week at a House Appropriations subcommittee on homeland security hearing that Israel will soon join Container Security Initiative (CSI) to safeguard shipments exported to the United States.
It is understood that the Israeli cabinet had approved the move and Israel is expected to sign within three weeks a declaration of principles committing itself to participate in the overseas inspection program.
Ahern did not mention which ports would be involved but it is understood that the port of Haifa will be the first to join.
The US CBP plans to expand this year the CSI program from 50 foreign ports to 58 ports.
The initiative is based on bilateral agreements which allows the US agency to station small teams of customs inspectors at overseas ports in order to check shipping documents for risk factors.
US customs inspectors can, within the scope of the agreement, request host customs authorities to scan selected sea containers with highly advanced large-scale scanner equipment prior to their being loaded on board.
