The national security environment: Strategic context

The radically changed nature of the international trading environment since the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States has had a significant impact on border operations. In many cases the regulatory burden on the international trading community has increased considerably. Indeed, while no doubt well intentioned, a number of government responses to the international security threat may do little more than increase the regulatory burden on honest traders and achieve little in the way of enhancing the ability to identify potentially high risk individuals or consignments. Well designed national security requirements can, however, be incorporated seamlessly into border operations in a way that can enhance national security without compromising trade facilitation objectives.