Given all of the compliance and regulatory issues that exporters, importers, shippers, financial institutions, etc. must adhere to, time and cost savings are not the only reason why there is an increased interest in the GTM software these days. With increasing security concerns and demands for supply chain visibility, companies are looking for more functionality from their existing enterprise software packages and providers, while spending cautiously on new technology. Because of post 9/11 security issues, many of GTM products include modules for checking orders against denied-parties lists, tracking suppliers' and end users' activities, and checking compliance with export control regulations, while some shippers leverage the software to create electronic advance shipment notices (ASN) required by US CBP and to comply with C-TPAT.
The challenge for government and industry is to secure trade without impeding growth and the best way to do this is through the electronic transmission of data. Thus, many new laws and initiatives have been created that require a shift away from traditional paper-based trade systems to new electronic formats. Emphasis is placed on collecting information on trades earlier in the supply chain, effectively "pushing back the borders", while securing them. These initiatives are summarized in Table 1.
Table 1: Global Trade Security Summary
| Initiative | Description |
| Container Security Initiative (CSI) | A government initiative for stationing US Customs employees and equipment in major foreign ports for pre-screening of containerized freight prior to sailing to US destinations. |
| 24-hour Automated Manifest Rule | A mandatory requirement that all shipping manifests must be filed with US twenty-four hours prior to departure from the foreign port of origin for containerized ocean freight |
| Free and Secure Trade (FAST) | A security certification for all truck traffic entering the US from Canada. Carriers with FAST certification will be granted expedited border clearance |
| Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) | A voluntary certification program for US importers whereby they can obtain expedited customs clearance by documenting and submitting a self-audit of international supply chain partners, physical security procedures and escalation procedures to US Customs. |
| Sarbanes-Oxley | US congress requires corporations to provide ongoing reports and visibility into the flow of information and funds pertaining to financial processes. |
| Bioterrorism Act 2002 | Initiated under the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), this policy is under review and discussion and may require importers of food products into the US to disclose product level detail. It requires registration of foreign and domestic "food facilities"; record retention to be made to FDA within four hours; and prior notice of food import shipments before allowed entry to the US |
| Patriot Act of 2002 | This Act, signed into law by the US president, requires that financial institutions know their customers and, to the greatest extent possible, their customers' customers. |
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