DHS' Draft Strategy on Global Supply Chain Security Expected Soon
During the April 12, 2011 COAC1 meeting, a Department of Homeland Security official discussed the agency’s efforts to issue a report on a U.S. global supply chain security strategy for all modes of transportation (air, land, and sea). The report will inform the industry on how the government plans to interact with them, international partners, and foreign governments. It will also help guide and inform budget and program development within each of the federal agencies.
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Draft Global Supply Chain Strategy Under Review, Expected to be Finished this Spring
A draft of this “National Strategy to Secure the Flow of Commerce in the Global Supply Chain” report, which is being directed and coordinated by the National Security Staff, is at the final stages of White House and high-level interagency review. The draft is expected to be completed in spring 2011.
Its Development Was Gov’t Wide and Included Outside Stakeholders
DHS initiated this report because of the need for an integrated whole government approach to global supply chain security and to meet the requirements of the Security and Accountability for Every (SAFE) Port Act (Public Law 109-347). An interim report was released in July 2007; it was not a detailed plan, but the overarching framework.
However, after consultations, the Obama Administration decided that a “far superior” approach would be to involve agencies and outside stakeholders. While this led to a more robust government-wide strategy, it also caused them to miss their Congressional mandate for the strategy2.
Trade Resumption Protocols Part of Strategy, Use of Maritime as Model
Trade resumption protocols will be part of the strategy. Currently, the maritime trade resumption protocols are being looked at by another group within the White House, the Maritime Security Committee. The Committee is checking whether the existing protocols are up to date and applicable for the maritime sector. They will then use these concepts that were found to appropriate for the maritime sector to see if they can be applied to other modes of transportation.
Strategy’s Supporting Docs to Include Near Term Actions and Outreach
The strategy will have several supporting documents which will be of interest of interest to varying audiences, such as:
Recommendations document -- this is the Administration’s attempt to translate some of the strategic principles contained in the National Strategy into near term actions. This document will also outline the longer term implementation efforts.
Outreach plan -- this will detail the process by which the Administration will engage further with outside/non-governmental stakeholders, such as the trade.
Six Month Period for Feedback, Receive Recommendations
After the government completes its work on the draft National Strategy, it will then engage with outside/non-governmental stakeholders, such as the trade. They expect there to be a six-month period between the release of the strategy for comments and the implementation of the strategy.
After Reviewing Feedback, Will Release National Action Plan to Agencies
After reviewing input, the White House will issue a National Action Plan providing guidance to all agencies on how best to align their budgets and develop programs to accomplish the National Strategy they developed.
1Departmental Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Related Homeland Security Functions
2The SAFE Port Act required that the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with appropriate Federal, State, local, and tribal government agencies, the private sector, and the international community develop and implement a strategic plan to enhance the security of the international supply chain. An initial version of the strategy was required to be submitted to Congress by July 10, 2007, with a final version to be completed by October, 2009.
(See ITT’s Online Archives or 07/29/10 news, 10072930, for BP summary of COAC’s recommendations for the report.
See ITT’s Online Archives or 08/21/07 news, 07082110, for BP summary of DHS discussing the interim report at the August 2007 COAC meeting.
See ITT’s Online Archives or 04/14/11 news, 11041414, for BP summary providing an overview of the COAC meeting, including this report.)
July 2007 interim report, “Strategy to Enhance International Supply Chain Security,” is available here.