On 22 October 2002, a second meeting was held between Commission and U.S. Customs officials. A Commission press release, dated 23 October, said that although both sides recognised the need to cooperate there were a number of "major principles" to be sorted out including "reciprocity" (ie: could E.U. officials inspect containers leaving the USA for its ports?) and "different views" still existed on the proposed 24 hour rule (see below). The Commission also noted that a "group of technical experts" would be meeting to "deepened discussion of specific areas".
But just eight days later, on 30 October 2002, the USA announced that the CSI would come into effect in 60 days. This requires all ships carrying containers to the USA to give their authorities details of their cargo under a USA imposed "24-hour Rule".
On 7 November, Italy joined the CSI, the U.K. followed suit on 9 December; then Spain (8 January 2003) and Sweden (28 January) followed suit. Thus seven E.U. states have now signed bilateral agreements to join the CSI.
A speech by U.S. Customs Commissioner, Robert Bonner, on 21 November 2002, at a U.S. Customs Trade Symposium elaborated on the CSI and its implications. The U.S. Customs Department was being moved from the Department of the Treasury to the Department for Homeland Security which Bonner said was:
"good for our country, good for the security of America [and] good for the trade community".
But just eight days later, on 30 October 2002, the USA announced that the CSI would come into effect in 60 days. This requires all ships carrying containers to the USA to give their authorities details of their cargo under a USA imposed "24-hour Rule".
On 7 November, Italy joined the CSI, the U.K. followed suit on 9 December; then Spain (8 January 2003) and Sweden (28 January) followed suit. Thus seven E.U. states have now signed bilateral agreements to join the CSI.
A speech by U.S. Customs Commissioner, Robert Bonner, on 21 November 2002, at a U.S. Customs Trade Symposium elaborated on the CSI and its implications. The U.S. Customs Department was being moved from the Department of the Treasury to the Department for Homeland Security which Bonner said was:
"good for our country, good for the security of America [and] good for the trade community".