Washington set to step up global supply chain security

The Obama administration plans to increase negotiations with key European, Asian and North American trading partners as a way to tighten security for cargo supply chains around the globe.

Terrorist groups, including Yemen-based Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, or AQAP, have identified international cargo as a target. U.S. counter-terrorism officials say the global supply chain is particularly vulnerable to attack because of gaps in security country-to-country.

The White House's "National Security Strategy for Global Supply Chain Security" calls for a six-month push by the U.S. and its allies to develop bilateral and multilateral "action plans" for better synchronizing global inspecting systems and improving data sharing about inbound and outbound shipments.

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