PORT DIRECTOR REACTS TO U.S. LAW ON MARITME CARGO

UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 001559 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/EX AND WHA/CAR S/CRS SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR INR/IAA WHA/EX PLEASE PASS USOAS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETRD EWWT AMGT PTER SUBJECT: PORT DIRECTOR REACTS TO U.S. LAW ON MARITME CARGO SCANNING REQUIRMENTS REF: STATE 119837 ¶1. Poloff and USAID officer met with Jean Evans Charles, Director General of the National Port Authority (APN) in Port-au-Prince on September 20. Poloff referred to talking points provided in reftel, and told Charles that President Bush has signed into law the 9/11 Act of 2007, which mandates that, beginning in 2012, all U.S.-bound shipping containers must be scanned at a foreign port before loaded. ¶2. The DG told Poloff that he is worried about the additional burden this requirement will place on the port, but accepts that ''if it has to be done, it has to be done.'' He said furthermore that this is as much of an issue for the Department of Customs to contend with as the port; but in any event, technical and financial resources are likely needed to reach compliance. SANDERSON