Final answer:
C-TPAT, or Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism, is a voluntary program with the goal to enhance supply chain security and facilitate fast, secure movement of goods. This partnership with U.S. Customs and Border Protection offers benefits such as reduced inspections and priority processing for compliant companies.
Step-by-step explanation:
C-TPAT (Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism) is a voluntary United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program designed to improve the security of private companies' supply chains with respect to terrorism. The purpose of C-TPAT is to enhance the security of the supply chain and to facilitate the fast and secure movement of goods. This is achieved by companies voluntarily entering into a partnership with the CBP, where they agree to maintain a high level of security in their supply chains and in return, they may receive benefits such as reduced number of CBP examinations and priority processing for CBP inspections.
C-TPAT aims to safeguard the world's vibrant trade industry from terrorists, maintaining the economic health of the U.S. and its trading partners. This program is part of the U.S. government's layered enforcement strategy to secure the international supply chain, while facilitating legitimate trade and transportation. Businesses that comply with C-TPAT criteria are considered to be of low risk, thus less likely to be examined at a U.S. port of entry.