On 25 August, American Shipper reported that the US supply chain industry appears divided over how the government should implement new international security standards for cargo carried on freighter aircraft and whether certain exporters get special treatment to minimise associated cost increases. It says that at issue is whether the TSA will recognize the security controls of e-commerce fulfilment centres, warehouses and other shippers as sufficient rather than require them to pay costs associated with 100% screening of their air cargo shipments. Under the new international standards scheduled, all cargo on freighter aircraft must be screened for explosives as done the past decade for cargo moving on passenger planes, with harmonised air cargo screening made more rigorous by phasing out “known shipper” programmes whereby carriers and freight forwarders are responsible for vetting customers to ensure their cargo is safe to transport.
