What are CTPAT and PIP?

The Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) is a certification that provides security procedures against terrorist threats when importing goods into the United States. It secures your supply chain with your foreign business partners. This certification allows for closer cooperation with U.S. Customs by demonstrating safe practices on the part of all participants.

Partners in Protection (PIP) certification is similar to C-TPAT certification. It is designed to “accelerate border processes in Canada and make them more efficient for preapproved, low-risk businesses that are recognized as reliable traders.”

What are the benefits of being CTPAT or PIP certified?

• A reduced number of border checks
• Access to the list of member companies of the program
• The possibility of using the FAST/EXPRESS LANE to cross the border
• The establishment of a single contact
• Eligibility for various customs programs
• Recognition of your company by your business partners and increased security within your own company

Consultation services offered by W2C

Here are some of the services that our customs consultants offer:

• Assistance in obtaining C-TPAT and/or PIP certification
• A meeting with the various contacts in your organization to explain the C-TPAT requirements and establish a schedule
• Individual meetings or email exchanges with each of your organization’s stakeholders to write or review procedures
• Assistance to complete your security profile
• Preparation of the certification application on the USCBP and CBSA portals
• Annual training sessions with your employees
• Annual C-TPAT audit reviews to ensure C-TPAT compliance, including updating the security profile and providing assistance during validation visits

Note that the minimum requirements of these two programs are very similar and can be done at the same time. In addition, when you obtain both certifications, by mutual agreement between Canada and the United States, there will be only one validation visit to cover both certification programs.