NOVEMBER 2024AEROSPACEDEFENSEREVIEW.COM9agency, we must constantly balance keeping illegal, dangerous goods from entering the country and facilitating and expediting legitimate trade. While the agency has stopped more than 6,000 shipments for review between UFLPA enforcement in June 2022 and November 2023, this enforcement has yet to create port congestion or lead to unexpected supply chain disruptions.To ensure transparency in our enforcement efforts, CBP hosted a Forced Labor Technical Expo in March 2023, where industry representatives shared best practices for supply chain transparency. We have also conducted over 300 engagements with stakeholders, including demonstrations, webinars, and working sessions about the law, and developed an interactive online dashboard to provide up-to-date enforcement statistics. CBP continues to explore innovative technological solutions to enhance its forced labor enforcement efforts, but while technology plays an important role, it can only be effective when companies prioritize due diligence to ensure their supply chains comply with U.S. laws. CBP Combats Environmental Trade CrimesCBP's mission to protect U.S. borders also involves dealing with environmental threats. Natural resource crimes--like illegal logging, illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, and wildlife trafficking--have far-reaching implications for the environment, public health and safety, and socio-economic development. Such offenses represent between $85 and $265 billion each year, starving local communities of much-needed revenue for their economies, and are often linked to money laundering and the funding of transnational criminal organizations.Strengthening our environmental enforcement posture is one of the four pillars of CBP's Green Trade Strategy, which was launched in 2022. This is an area we expect to place an increased focus on in the coming years. We hope that our work will set an example for customs administrations worldwide as one way to mitigate the impacts of climate change on global supply chains. All of our work depends upon the dedicated team of skilled professionals who serve with honor and integrity to safeguard our country and our values. I am proud to work with them as we continue to modernize our efforts to support our vital mission. CBP IS ONE OF THE FEW GOVERNMENT AGENCIES IN THE WORLD GRANTED LEGAL AUTHORITY TO ENFORCE AGAINST IMPORTED GOODS PRODUCED WHOLLY OR IN PART WITH FORCED LABOR
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