Trade groups warming to independent validation.(World Customs Organization)(Brief article)

Officially, the U.S. trade is foursquare against the idea of using outsiders to validate companies' supply-chain security under the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism. Validation is a function of the government--Customs and Border Protection--and Congress should adequately fund the agency to ensure it has a cadre of specialists to complete validations in a timely manner. That's the official party line, but it appears that some trade groups are giving it a second thought. One reason: The World Customs Organization may put its blessing on …