War will not harm trade say confident officials

WASHINGTON - The Bush Administration yesterday expressed confidence it could keep trade flowing smoothly across United States borders, despite increased security in preparation for a war with Iraq and possible new terror attacks.

"We're going to do everything possible to minimise ... the disruption to commerce," Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said one day after US President George W. Bush put Iraqi President Saddam Hussein on notice of imminent military action to remove him from power.

Ridge said the United States was counting on close co-operation from its two biggest trading partners - Canada and Mexico - to keep trade flowing smoothly, despite increased inspections to prevent weapons of mass destruction from being smuggled into the US.

"We all want to make sure that we minimise the inconvenience for legitimate people and legitimate goods," Ridge said. "We have two willing partners [in Canada and Mexico] and I think we can get the enhanced security we need."

Ridge outlined several actions the Government was taking under Operation Liberty Shield, a set of heightened security measures that went into effect on Monday evening after the country was placed on the second-highest terror alert.

Frank Vargo, vice-president for international trade at the National Association of Manufacturers, said the Government had learned a lot over the past 18 months about how to boost border security without hurting commerce.

"They're very cognisant of the need to keep freight flowing," Vargo said.

The US Customs Service already has its Container Security Initiative, which is aimed at preventing cargo containers from being used to ship weapons of mass destruction into the country.

The US has signed agreements with 18 of the top 20 international ports, which handle nearly 70 per cent of all US-bound sea cargo containers. The pacts allow Customs to station US officers at the foreign ports to help identify high-risk containers before shipment.

Customs has also stepped up efforts to prevent the illegal export of high-tech goods that could be used to build chemical, biological or nuclear weapons.

- REUTERS

Herald Feature: Iraq