The fourth edition of Building an Import/Export Business is dedi-
cated to the managers and staff of the United States Department
of Homeland Security. They have the very difficult task of allow-
ing legitimate trade to flow while blocking imports and exports
that might bring harm to the United States.
This huge and relatively new government agency includes the
Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which protects
the nation’s transportation systems to ensure freedom of move-
ment for people and commerce. It also includes United States
Customs and Border Protection (CBP), which is responsible for
protecting the nation’s borders against terrorists and terrorism
while facilitating the flow of legitimate trade and travel. In addi-
tion, it includes the United States Immigration and Customs
Enforcement (ICE), which is charged with finding and eliminating
vulnerabilities in the nation’s border, economic, transportation
and infrastructure security.
Imagine 30,000 sealed shipping containers entering the United
States every day through ports on all borders, and the enormous
task of deciding which ones to detain and inspect. It boggles the
mind, yet it is being done to the best of the DHS’s ability, guided
by ever-changing legislation and its interpretation. I congratulate
everyone who is involved in this difficult but vital endeavor.