DHS works closely with international partners, including foreign governments, major multilateral organizations, and global businesses, to strengthen the security of the networks of global trade and travel upon which the nation's economy and communities rely. 

Global Supply Chain Security

• DHS has signed or jointly released statements on Global Supply Chain Security with the European Union and eight additional international partners to declare mutual commitment towards the protection of critical elements of the supply chain system, from terrorist attacks and disruptions, while facilitating and expediting the smooth flow of legitimate international trade.

• DHS continues to expand the Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT), a voluntary public-private sector program that evaluates trusted shippers through security checks and on site evaluations. As of June 2012, C-TPAT had more than 10,300 Certified Partners worldwide and has conducted more than 20,800 on-site validations of manufacturing and logistics facilities in 97 countries, representing some of the highest risk areas of the world.

• ICE, in coordination with the WCO, continues to support Operation Global Shield, a multilateral law enforcement effort aimed at combating the illicit cross-border diversion and trafficking of precursor chemicals for making improvised explosive devices  by monitoring their cross-border movements.   As of July 2012, Program Global Shield has accounted for seizures of chemical precursors totaling more than 126 metric tons and 40 arrests related to the illicit diversion of these chemicals.

Cooperation with Canada and Mexico

• DHS established joint Port of Entry Committees at the 20 largest land border ports of entry, and in 2012, established similar committees at the 8 Canadian airports at which U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) conducts preclearance. 

• Canada began recognizing NEXUS members for trusted traveler lanes at passenger pre-board screening points for flights from Canada to the United States, which will decrease screening time for trusted travelers departing Canada for the United States.

Information Sharing

• Preventing and Combating Serious Crime Agreements (PCSC): DHS, in collaboration with DOJ and the Department of State (DOS), has completed PCSC Agreements, or their equivalent with 35 Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries and two additional countries to share biographic and biometric information about potential terrorists and serious criminals.
• Passenger Name Records: In December 2011, DHS and the European Union (EU) concluded a new U.S.-EU Passenger Name Record (PNR) agreement, entered into force on July 1, 2012, that improves the privacy protection and security benefits of the previous 2007 U.S.-EU PNR Agreement.  The new agreement provides state-of-the-art privacy protections, security enhancements and legal certainty for airlines serving economically critical routes.

International Partnerships

• Air Cargo Screening: Fulfilling a requirement of the 9/11 Act, 100 percent of cargo on international passenger flights bound for the United States will be screened by the end of 2012.

• Container Security Initiative: The Container Security Initiative, currently operational in 58 foreign seaports through agreements in 32 countries, identifies and screens all U.S.-bound maritime containers that pose a potential risk.

• Declaration on Aviation Security: In October 2010, nearly 190 countries signed a historic ICAO declaration that establishes a foundation for aviation security to better protect the entire global aviation system and make air travel safer and more secure than ever before.

• Federal Air Marshal Service Agreements: Through such partnerships, U.S. Federal Air Marshals are permitted on international U.S. carrier flights to and from 62 countries.

• Global Entry:   CBP has partnered with Canada, Germany, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, The Netherlands, Qatar and the United Kingdom, to allow vetted, trusted travelers to use Global Entry expedited border clearance stations in the U.S., focusing resources on those individuals about whom we know the least.

• Maritime Bilateral Agreements:  USCG, with support from the Departments of State and Justice, has maritime bilateral agreements with over 40 countries that facilitate communication, increase the operational reach of U.S. assets, and support integration with international partners by providing direct support to enable their assets to better patrol and respond to threats in their own sovereign waters.

• Pre-Clearance Agreements: Pre-clearance agreements allow DHS to screen travelers and their baggage before takeoff through the same process a traveler would undergo upon arrival at a U.S. port of entry to better target and prevent threats while streamlining legitimate travel. CBP preclears passengers and their luggage from 15 international destinations.

• Science and Technology Agreements: DHS has signed 12 international agreements to foster collaboration in science and technology, including research and development in cutting-edge technologies to ensure our mutual security

See International Engagement Overview