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U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Port Authority Reach Agreement to Maintain Security and Continue Trade Operations at Red Hook Container Terminal
NEW YORK—U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey today announced the signing of an agreement to maintain security at the Red Hook Container Terminal. The agreement maintains operations and trade facilitation at Red Hook, and enables continued CBP operations and examinations at the Brooklyn facility through January 8, 2017.
The agreement is the result of close collaboration between CBP and the Port Authority and takes into account the unique geography and terminal operations at Red Hook, the potential economic impact if certain aspects of CBP's operations were moved off the terminal, and the overall flow of trade through the port and the region. It will ensure the safety of the CBP inspectional areas on the terminal, and will allow for all types of CBP examinations to be completed at the terminal to secure international trade.
"Our collaboration with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is a good example of Federal and State/Local authorities working together to increase security and safety, while reducing transaction costs and expediting trade to the benefit of the local and regional economy," said Robert E. Perez, Director of CBP's New York Field Operations. "We very much appreciate our outstanding working relationship with the Port Authority."
"We applaud the efforts of our Congressional delegation to help address this issue with CBP," said Port Authority Executive Director Pat Foye. "We thank CBP for its commitment to Red Hook and for listening to us and the Congressional delegation and doing the right thing for the region's port."
The agreement followed extensive discussions among officials and took into account the unique geography and terminal operations at Red Hook, the potential economic and environmental impact if certain aspects of CBP's operations were moved off the terminal, and the overall flow of trade through the port and the region. The agreement with CBP provides the incentive for planned new investments at the terminal and along the Brooklyn waterfront over the next five years.
The Red Hook Container Terminal serves a niche market for commodities from the Mediterranean, South America and Latin America that are destined for east of the Hudson River. Today, 20 percent of the cargo at the port terminal is destined for locations east of the Hudson River.
Red Hook currently handles $3.8 billion in total retail value commodities. The terminal's primary imports are produce products and high end beverages. Its primary exports are household goods, foodstuffs and medical equipment.