Title 6, Domestic SecurityRelease 119-110

§943 Automated Targeting System

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

Last updated Sep 23, 2026|Official source

Summary

Requires the Secretary, through the Commissioner, to collect and analyze data about how cargo moves through the international supply chain and use that data to find high-risk shipments for inspection. Carriers must send extra electronic cargo and security data to the Department before loading goods onto ships at foreign seaports. The Secretary must study the costs and benefits of asking for more documents, shortening deadlines for changing manifests or submitting entry data, and other steps, and must talk with stakeholders about what information is needed and when to send it. The Secretary must write rules that follow Trade Act 2002 standards on consultation, technology, analysis, confidentiality, and timing. An independent panel must review the Automated Targeting System, and the system should be improved with smarter algorithms, real-time intelligence, electronic checks to spot data mismatches, and fast checks after maritime security incidents. The Secretary must act on recommendations from the Comptroller General, the Treasury Inspector General, and the Department Inspector General. All supply-chain data must be sent securely. Funding authorized: $33,200,000 for FY2008; $35,700,000 for FY2009; $37,485,000 for FY2010.

Full Legal Text

Title 6, §943

Domestic Security, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In general
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)Requirement
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)Consideration
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)Regulations
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), including provisions relating to consultation, technology, analysis, use of information, confidentiality, and timing requirements.
(e)System improvements
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)Secure transmission of certain information
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)Authorization of appropriations
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 6, Domestic Security

Last Updated

Sep 23, 2026

Release point: 119-110