U.S. Customs and Border Patrol's Assistant Commissioner

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 WELLINGTON 000764 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/ANP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON ETRD NZ SUBJECT: U.S. Customs and Border Patrol's Assistant Commissioner Mullen consults with New Zealand interlocutors. ¶1. Michael C. Mullen, Assistant Commissioner in the Office of International Affairs and Trade Relations at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) was in Auckland, New Zealand from September 9 to 12, 2007 to attend the NZ-US Partnership Forum and to meet with his counterparts in the GNZ especially those at the New Zealand Customs Service (NZCS). Most significantly he had an opportunity to consult with Martyn Dunne, Chief Executive Officer for NZCS. Mr. Mullen's message was to reaffirm CBP's interest in working strategically with the NZCS and to thank Mr. Dunne for his leadership role with the international intelligence community forums. He also reaffirmed CBP's commitment to the international intelligence community Conference Forums and provided an update on CBP activities related to the tasks accepted by the USG at the first Forum held on June 27, 2007. Mr. Mullen also wanted to personally reassure GNZ officials that he saw no immediate impact on the way that CBP currently screens cargo destined for the U.S. - over time some changes may take place, but only after extensive consultations with the public and trade community and our foreign partners. He sought to allay local concerns following the recent announcement by the USG to implement the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act, signed by the President on August 3, 2007, which requires 100% screening of all sea freight destined for the U.S. leaving foreign embarkation ports. ¶2. Mr. Mullen also discussed a recent decision made by the USG to reorganize/enhance CBP's intelligence function. This change, which is effective October 1, 2007, involves several offices being consolidated into a new Office of Intelligence and Operations Coordination. This new office will be responsible for the entire intelligence cycle and ensuring that intelligence is packaged to serve CBP operators and is closely aligned with passenger and cargo targeting efforts. The office will be at the Assistant Commissioner level and consist of four divisions: Intelligence and Situational Awareness, Targeting and Analysis, Field Coordination, and Incident Management and Operations Coordination. ¶3. There were also discussions about the next international intelligence community's meeting in San Francisco. It is hoped that the meeting will afford an opportunity to discuss strategic priorities and future customs roles with the goal of establishing working sub-groups that will focus on specific areas of strategic cooperation amongst the members. During the last international intelligence community's meeting, CBP agreed to complete the following tasks: --CBP agreed to create a straw man on the topic of Customs in the 21st Century. A copy of the draft was promised by September 15th to review prior to the next meeting. --CBP is thinking about the future of discussions of customs in the 21st Century in conjunction with the World Customs Organization (WCO). Mullen said it is important to have strong leadership in those discussions. New Zealand has put forward very interesting ideas for this paper. He asked if NZ would contemplate take an active stance in guiding these deliberations in the WCO. --CBP agreed to reexamine the eight strategic priorities identified in the Intelligence Meeting held in March 2007 and to be prepared to discuss these strategic priorities. This review is still taking place, and CBP should be ready for discussions by time the next International intelligence community meeting occurs. --CBP agreed to host the next international intelligence community meeting in San Francisco in the Fall of 2007. The dates under consideration are the weeks of October 29th or November 5th. --CBP agreed to provide the members of the international intelligence community with information on its proposed Global Trade Exchange (GTX) initiative so that each member may determine its interest in participating in a trial of the data exchange. Additional information will be brought to the next international intelligence community meeting for GNZ consideration. --The discussions regarding the benefits to be derived from our mutual recognition agreement appear to be proceeding well. ¶4. During the last international intelligence community meeting, CBP agreed to following tasks: --Create a draft document on the topic of Customs in the 21st Century; --Reexamine the eight strategic priorities identified in the Intelligence Meeting held in March 2007 and to be prepared to discuss these strategic priorities; --Host the next international intelligence community meeting in San Francisco, CA, in the Fall of 2007; --Provide the members of the international intelligence community with information on the proposed Global Trade Exchange (GTX) initiative so that each member could determine its interest in participating in a trial of the data exchange. ¶5. Post trip follow-up: WELLINGTON 00000764 002 OF 002 -- CBP to indicate whether Acting Commissioner Mullen or other CBP executive can travel to New Zealand later this year to brief the New Zealand Meat Industry Association Board regarding cargo requirements. -- CBP to contact the Department of Energy to determine if an official can brief New Zealand on the Megaports initiative. Note: National Nuclear Security Administration's (NNSA) Megaports Initiative teams up with other countries to enhance their ability to screen cargo at major international seaports. The Initiative provides radiation detection equipment and trains their personnel to specifically check for nuclear or other radioactive materials. In return, NNSA requires that data be shared on detections and seizures of nuclear or radiological material that resulted from the use of the equipment provided. The Megaports Initiative works closely with the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Bureau of Customs and Border Protection Container Security Initiative. Together NNSA and DHS engage other countries to help secure the international maritime trade lanes. End Note. McCormick