CBP Commissioner Kerlikowske and Senator Carper Highlight CBP’s Agriculture Mission

WASHINGTON – U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner R. Gil Kerlikowske and U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.) met today at the Port of Wilmington, Delaware to highlight the CBP’s agriculture mission. Millions of pounds of fresh fruits, vegetables, cut flowers, herbs, and other items enter the United States from other countries every year. Although these items appear to be harmless, there could be hidden threats in that baggage and in those truckloads, trainloads and containers of fresh items that could seriously threaten U.S. agriculture, our natural resources and our economy.

“The Port of Wilmington is critical to U.S. trade, particularly in agriculture, and we work closely with industry to facilitate legitimate trade,” said U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner R. Gil Kerlikowske. “I am grateful to Senator Carper for supporting the part of our mission that protects U.S. agriculture.”

“The work the Customs and Border Protection personnel do at the Port of Wilmington is vitally important to the safety and security of our homeland,” said U.S. Sen. Tom Carper, (D-Del.), ranking member on the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. “I’m proud of the work that goes on here – much of North America’s imported fresh fruit like bananas come through the Port of Wilmington. My appreciation goes out to CBP Commissioner Kerlikowske for coming to the Port and bringing together stakeholders to discuss ways we can work together and make our Port even better.”

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