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The Free and Secure Trade (FAST) program is a direct outgrowth of the Smart Border Accords entered into between the United States and Canada and the United States and Mexico in the wake of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
FAST is designed to enhance the security and safety of North America, while also bolstering the economic prosperity of U.S., Canada, and Mexico, by aligning, to the maximum extent possible, their commercial processing programs. The FAST program uses common risk-management principles, supply chain security, industry partnerships, and advanced technology to improve the efficiency of screening and clearing commercial traffic at ports of entry along the US/Canada and US/Mexico borders.
The FAST program provides expedited processing for participants that qualify under the stringent terms of the program. Participants qualify by enhancing the security of their manufacturing plants, warehouses and shipping systems under the auspices of the U.S. Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT). FAST processing on the US/Mexico border also requires the foreign manufacturer to use high security seals properly placed in
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the approved manner when crossing the border.
Currently the US/Canada FAST program is in place at five US/Canada border ports of entry - Detroit and Port Huron, Michigan; Buffalo and Champlain, New York; and Blaine, Washington.
US/MEXICO FAST:
The first dedicated FAST lanes on the US/Mexico border are located in El Paso, Texas. CBP officers began initial processing of trucks through the FAST lanes on October 27, 2003. The FAST program was inaugurated by Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge, during ceremonies at the port on December 4, 2003.
FAST lanes will be opened at additional ports of entry on the US/Mexico border within the next few months.
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Prior to proceeding with the rollout of FAST at the additional ports of entry, CBP officers will conduct a complete security analysis at each location.
The government of Mexico has committed to designate special FAST access lanes from Mexico where the local highway infrastructure allows.
As of November 25, 2003, CBP received 1,153 driver applications. CBP has issued FAST identification cards to 974 of these commercial truck drivers at the El Paso FAST Driver Enrollment Center. Nearly 3,000 trucks have been processed through the FAST lanes in El Paso since October 27, 2003.
Additional information about the FAST program is available on the U.S. Customs and Border Protection web site at: www.cbp.gov.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is an agency within the Department of Homeland Security that unifies U.S. Customs, Immigration and Agriculture Inspectors and the U.S. Border Patrol.
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