Title 6Domestic SecurityRelease 119-73

§943 Automated Targeting System

Title 6 › Chapter CHAPTER 3— - SECURITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR EVERY PORT › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - SECURITY OF THE INTERNATIONAL SUPPLY CHAIN › Part Part A— - General Provisions › § 943

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary must collect and analyze data about how cargo moves through the international supply chain to find high‑risk shipments that need inspection. The Secretary must require extra electronic data, including security parts of entry records, to be sent to the Department before cargo is loaded at foreign seaports. The Secretary must study whether to require more paperwork, shorten the time allowed to change a container manifest, shorten deadlines for submitting entry data, and take other steps to improve the targeting system. The Secretary must also consult stakeholders, including the Commercial Operations Advisory Committee, about what data is needed and when to submit it. The Secretary must write rules to carry out these duties, following required procedures on consultation, technology, analysis, use of information, confidentiality, and timing. An independent panel must review the Automated Targeting System and consider smarter future versions using more advanced algorithms and real‑time intelligence. The system must be able to compare manifests and other data to find major inconsistencies and help resolve them, and must be able to pull key data after a maritime security incident to speed inspection or release. The Secretary must make a plan to address recommendations from the Comptroller General of the United States, the Inspector General of the Department of the Treasury, and the Inspector General of the Department. All required supply‑chain information must be sent securely. Funds authorized: $33,200,000 for fiscal year 2008; $35,700,000 for fiscal year 2009; $37,485,000 for fiscal year 2010.

Full Legal Text

Title 6, §943

Domestic Security — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary, acting through the Commissioner, shall—
(1)identify and seek the submission of data related to the movement of a shipment of cargo through the international supply chain; and
(2)analyze the data described in paragraph (1) to identify high-risk cargo for inspection.
(b)The Secretary, acting through the Commissioner, shall require the electronic transmission to the Department of additional data elements for improved high-risk targeting, including appropriate security elements of entry data, as determined by the Secretary, to be provided as advanced information with respect to cargo destined for importation into the United States prior to loading of such cargo on vessels at foreign seaports.
(c)The Secretary, acting through the Commissioner, shall—
(1)consider the cost, benefit, and feasibility of—
(A)requiring additional nonmanifest documentation;
(B)reducing the time period allowed by law for revisions to a container cargo manifest;
(C)reducing the time period allowed by law for submission of certain elements of entry data, for vessel or cargo; and
(D)such other actions the Secretary considers beneficial for improving the information relied upon for the Automated Targeting System and any successor targeting system in furthering the security and integrity of the international supply chain; and
(2)consult with stakeholders, including the Commercial Operations Advisory Committee, and identify to them the need for such information, and the appropriate timing of its submission.
(d)The Secretary shall promulgate regulations to carry out this section. In promulgating such regulations, the Secretary shall adhere to the parameters applicable to the development of regulations under section 343(a) of the Trade Act of 2002 (19 U.S.C. 2071 note),11 See References in Text note below. including provisions relating to consultation, technology, analysis, use of information, confidentiality, and timing requirements.
(e)The Secretary, acting through the Commissioner, shall—
(1)conduct, through an independent panel, a review of the effectiveness and capabilities of the Automated Targeting System;
(2)consider future iterations of the Automated Targeting System, which would incorporate smart features, such as more complex algorithms and real-time intelligence, instead of relying solely on rule sets that are periodically updated;
(3)ensure that the Automated Targeting System has the capability to electronically compare manifest and other available data for cargo entered into or bound for the United States to detect any significant anomalies between such data and facilitate the resolution of such anomalies;
(4)ensure that the Automated Targeting System has the capability to electronically identify, compile, and compare select data elements for cargo entered into or bound for the United States following a maritime transportation security incident, in order to efficiently identify cargo for increased inspection or expeditious release; and
(5)develop a schedule to address the recommendations of the Comptroller General of the United States, the Inspector General of the Department of the Treasury, and the Inspector General of the Department with respect to the operation of the Automated Targeting System.
(f)All information required by the Department from supply chain partners shall be transmitted in a secure fashion, as determined by the Secretary, so as to protect the information from unauthorized access.
(g)There are authorized to be appropriated to the United States Customs and Border Protection to carry out the Automated Targeting System for identifying high-risk oceanborne container cargo for inspection—
(1)$33,200,000 for fiscal year 2008;
(2)$35,700,000 for fiscal year 2009; and
(3)$37,485,000 for fiscal year 2010.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

section 343(a) of the Trade Act of 2002, referred to in subsec. (d), is section 343(a) of Pub. L. 107–210, which was set out as a note under section 2071 of Title 19, Customs Duties, prior to editorial transfer to section 1415(a) of Title 19.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

6 U.S.C. § 943

Title 6Domestic Security

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73