Partners in Protection (PIP) is the Canada Border Services Agency's voluntary supply chain security program — Canada's equivalent to CTPAT. Originally launched in 1995 and significantly expanded after 9/11, PIP allows Canadian and foreign companies involved in cross-border trade to demonstrate enhanced security in exchange for CBSA facilitation benefits.
Eligible parties:
- Canadian importers and exporters
- Customs brokers licensed in Canada
- Highway carriers, rail carriers, marine carriers, and air carriers
- Freight forwarders and couriers
- Warehouse and terminal operators
PIP benefits include:
- Eligibility for FAST lanes at the U.S.-Canada border (when paired with CTPAT membership on the U.S. side)
- Reduced examinations and faster border processing
- Recognition under the CTPAT Mutual Recognition Arrangement (signed June 2008) — Canadian PIP members receive CTPAT-equivalent treatment when shipping to the U.S., and U.S. CTPAT members receive PIP-equivalent treatment when shipping to Canada
- Eligibility for CBSA's Trusted Trader program (combined PIP plus Customs Self-Assessment)
Requirements mirror CTPAT's Minimum Security Criteria — documented security procedures, personnel screening, container/conveyance security, business partner screening, IT security, and emergency response planning. Members undergo CBSA validation visits roughly every four years.
For U.S. importers sourcing from Canada, ensuring Canadian suppliers and carriers are PIP-certified is a key element of CTPAT business-partner due diligence and helps demonstrate reasonable care over the cross-border supply chain.