Exporters want talks over US move

The customs authority should urgently negotiate the necessary bilateral agreements with the US authorities so Irish exporters do not lose out in their key US market, according to the Irish Exporters Association (IEA).

Association president Mr Brian Ranalow said security measures introduced after the September 11th attacks relating to imports into the US would have wide-ranging implications for exporters.

"\ measures call for bilateral agreements with customs in exporting countries and, to date, these agreements have not been negotiated by Irish Customs," he said.

The US authorities have introduced the Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-PAT) and the Container Security Initiative (CSI). Both measures are aimed at screening imports into the US to ensure they do not pose a terrorist threat.

Under the CSI programme, exporting countries have been told by US authorities that once bilateral agreements are reached, their exporters will be able to use "smart" technology to screen containers of freight before they leave for the US.

"Irish exporters must not be put at a disadvantage in this new world of security compliance. It is absolutely essential that we become part of this arrangement," Mr Ranalow said."The US is our second-largest market and one that we can ill afford to lose out on," he added.