VZCZCXRO8305
RR RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLZ RUEHROV
DE RUEHHE #0730 2691344
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 261344Z SEP 07
FM AMEMBASSY HELSINKI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3788
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS HELSINKI 000730
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD EWWT AMGT PTER FI
SUBJECT: FINLAND SUPPORTS CARGO SCANNING, CONCERNED ABOUT
FEEDER PORTS
REF: SECSTATE 119837
1. (SBU) Econoff delivered reftel demarche on the new U.S.
law on maritime cargo scanning to Jyrki Linna, Olli Tuomisto
and Erik Dannback, all from the Finnish National Board of
Customs. Already aware of the U.S. requirement to scan all
cargo by the end of 2012, Finnish officials are generally
supportive of measures to increase overall container
security. All sea containers from Finland destined for the
U.S. depart from one of Finland's ten "feeder ports" to
ultimately be reloaded onto larger vessels at "deep sea
ports" outside of Finland. Finnish officials hope all
containers departing from Finnish ports can be fully scanned
and sealed while still in Finland, thus speeding cargo
time-to-market. Acknowledging the anticipated expense for
scanners, Finnish officials nevertheless hope all feeder
ports can receive the necessary equipment and certification
to scan and secure containers for the entire trip to the U.S.
2. (SBU) Customs officials recognize this new law
necessitates that the Customs Department play a more
significant role in certifying containers, something local
port authorities have typically done in the past. This
change will likely require a restructuring of Board of
Customs' duties and its jurisdiction in Finland. While again
supportive of U.S. measures to improve security, Customs
officials anticipated that the EU will require similar checks
at U.S. ports on a quid pro quo basis, and that some
countries might appeal to the WTO if the added security
measures are shown to have an adverse impact on worldwide
flow of goods.
3. (U) There has been no notable coverage in the Finnish
press of the U.S. cargo scanning requirement.
HYATT