AMERICAN importers see chaos ahead if a bill Congress passed last week becomes law because it demands compulsory screening of all containers in foreign ports before they embark for the US, reports The Financial Times of London.
Erik Autor, vice-president of the National Retail Federation, said it would be hard to meet the bill's requirements, adding his doubts that the Department of Homeland Security had the equipment or the personnel to do the checking needed at overseas ports.
James Carafano, a security expert at the Heritage Foundation, agreed, saying the requirement was "political theatre" that would antagonise US allies.
The Senate and House homeland security committees have agreed on implementing 9/11 commission recommendations, but the legislation departs from the usual principle that held that only containers appearing to pose a risk would be screened.
Under the legislation, all cargo entering the US on ships would have to undergo thorough screening at foreign ports. The bill has been supported by members of Congress who believe previous legislation such as last year's Safe Ports Act has been too weak in addressing the risk that a terrorist attack might be mounted on the US with a shipping container.
The bill also calls for all airfreight to be examined within three years and all sea containers within five years, although it allows for extensions to the deadlines.
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