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##### Overview

The FAST program is a bilateral initiative between the United States and
Canada designed to ensure security and safety while enhancing the
economic prosperity of both countries. In developing this program,
Canada and the United States have agreed to harmonize, to the maximum
extent possible, their commercial processes for clearance of commercial
shipments at the border. This will promote free and secure trade by
using common risk-management principles, supply chain security, industry
partnership, and advanced technology to improve the efficiency of
screening and clearing commercial traffic at our shared border.

**Objectives**\
FAST is an ambitious program both in terms of its scope and its
implementation date. For the United States and Canada, the initiative's
objectives promise to revolutionize the processing of transborder trade:

1.  The program aims to increase the integrity of supply chain security
    by offering expedited clearance to carriers and importers enrolled
    in Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) or Canada's
    Partner's in Protection (PIP).

2.  It's designed to streamline and to integrate registration processes
    for drivers, carriers, and importers; minimizing paperwork and
    ensuring only low risk participants are enrolled as members.

3.  The initiative seeks to expedite the clearance of transborder
    shipments of compliant partners by reducing Customs information
    requirements, dedicating lanes at major crossings to FAST
    participants, using common technology, and physically examining
    cargo transported by these low-risk clients with minimal frequency.

4.  The program is a catalyst for both Customs administrations to
    participate in the enhanced technologies by using transponders,
    which would make it easier to clear low risk shipments, and would
    mitigate the cost of program participation for FAST partners.

**Benefits**

FAST approved U.S./Canada highway carriers will benefit from:

1.  Dedicated lanes (where available) for greater speed and efficiency
    in the clearance of FAST transborder shipments.

2.  Reduced number of examinations for continued compliance with Customs
    FAST requirements.

3.  A strong and ongoing partnership with the Canadian (PIP) and Customs
    (C-TPAT) administrations.

4.  Enhanced supply chain security and safety while protecting the
    economic prosperity of both countries.

5.  The knowledge that they are carrying shipments for a C-TPAT approved
    importer.

6.  A head start for the upcoming modifications to FAST that will expand
    eligible electronic cargo release methods. The FAST processing of
    Pre Arrival Processing System (PAPS) is currently in use and will
    commence at expanded locations along the northern border during the
    year.

**Inauguration**

The initial phase of FAST for U.S. and Canada bound commercial shipments
began in December 2002. FAST processing is currently available for
qualifying commercial shipments at the following U.S./Canadian ports:

##### *U.S. Border* *Canada Border*

> Buffalo, New York Fort Erie, Ontario
>
> Blaine, Washington Douglas, British Columbia
>
> Champlain, New York Lacolle, Quebec
>
> Detroit, Michigan Windsor, Ontario
>
> Lewiston, New York Queenston, Ontario
>
> Alexandria Bay, New York Landsdowne, Quebec
>
> Derby Line, Vermont Stanstead Place, Quebec
>
> Highgate Springs, Vermont Phillipsburg, Quebec
>
> Pembina, North Dakota Emerson Junction, Manitoba
>
> Portal, North Dakota Beinfait, Saskatchewan
>
> Sweetgrass, Montana Coutts, Alberta

Further expansion of the FAST program will include the following sites
by July 1, 2005:

###### U.S. Border Canada Border

> Houlton, Maine Woodstock, New Brunswick
>
> Calais, Maine St. Stephen, New Brunswick
>
> Massena, New York Cornwall, Ontario
>
> Ogdensburg, New York Prescott, Ontario
>
> Sault Ste Marie, Michigan Sault Ste Marie, Ontario
>
> International Falls, Washington Fort Frances, Manitoba
>
> Oroville, Washington Osoyos, British Columbia

##### Qualifications 

FAST is a harmonized clearance process for shipments of known compliant
importer. Thus, any truck using FAST lane processing must be a C-TPAT
approved carrier, carrying qualifying goods from a C-TPAT approved
importer, and the driver must possess a valid FAST-Commercial Driver
Card. FAST processing is based upon advanced electronic transmission of
information. The following are the key components:

-   **Importer Registration:** Importers will complete separate
    applications to the Customs administrations. Importers authorized to
    use the FAST program for clearance into the United States will have
    a demonstrated history of complying with all relevant legislative
    and regulatory requirements, and will have made a commitment to
    security enhancing business practices as required by C-TPAT.

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-   **Carrier Registration:** Carriers will complete the FAST
    U.S./Canada Border Highway Carrier Application Process requirements
    that include corporate information, a security profile, and a
    written U.S./Canada Border Highway Carrier Agreement. In order to
    qualify for FAST Highway Carrier membership into the U.S. and
    Canada, two separate applications must be submitted to each
    country's respective FAST Processing Centers. Each country will
    perform an independent risk assessment and each country will issue
    independent approvals for participation. For the United States, a
    FAST approved carrier will have met all aspects of C-TPAT through
    the FAST registration process.

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-   **Commercial Driver Application:** Drivers will complete a
    U.S./Canada FAST Commercial Driver Application for the U.S. and
    Canada. The application will be risk assessed by the customs and
    immigration services of both countries. Applicants identified as low
    risk will report to an enrollment center where they will be
    interviewed, have their original identification and citizenship
    documents reviewed, fingerprinted and have a digital photo taken.
    Low-risk applicants will then be issued a FAST -- Commercial Driver
    Identification Card.

**Cargo Release Methods**

The two present cargo release methods for FAST shipments are the
National Customs Automated Prototype (NCAP) and the PAPS. NCAP/FAST
processing for FAST began in December 2002. The FAST processing of PAPS
shipments is currently taking place.

**FAST:** FAST is the first completely paperless cargo release mechanism
put into place Customs and Border Protection. This paperless processing
is achieved through electronic data transmissions and transponder
technology. FAST is highly automated and allows for the expedited
release of highly compliant cargo from major importers, reducing
congestion at our land borders.

**The Pre-Arrival Processing System (PAPS):** PAPS is a Customs
Automated Commercial System (ACS) border cargo release mechanism that
utilizes barcode technology to expedite the release of commercial
shipments while processing each shipment through Border Cargo
Selectivity (BCS) and the Automated Targeting System (ATS).