Global Trade Systems is a single proprietor consultancy that operates within a network of independent consultants with experience in international customs practices, international counterproliferation, international logistics, supply chain management, regulatory compliance, and law enforcement, including anti-terrorism.

Ventspils, Latvia

Creating Value From Security
Our mission is to provide, under the "new normalcy" of international trade, the guidance you need to ensure the security of your total supply chain, from raw materials to customer, while protecting the integrity of your brand, the profitability of your company and the safety of our nation.

C-TPAT and Customs Compliance

GTS advises small and medium sized enterprises on achieving regulatory compliance with the import and export regulations of customs administrations, including the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism. The international regulatory environment in which supply chains operate has been made far more complex by the World Customs Organization’s adoption of the, “Framework of Standards to Secure and Facilitate Global Trade.” We help companies navigate through this new level of complexity though our C-TPAT Simplified™ approach in ways that increase the efficiency of their supply chains. A recent client, a $2 billion pharmaceutical firm, received its C-TPAT certification and validation in less than nine months following our approach.

Port and Supply Chain Security

GTS also provides guidance to corporate and government clients on managing the inter-relationship between port and supply chain security, and understanding the impact of programs such as the European Union’s Authorized Economic Operator program. We concluded an assessment of port security in the seaports of Latvia and Estonia, and made recommendations to improve port security and to increase commercial development of the ports.

Corporate and Governmental Security Advisor

GTS was the technical program advisor to Cotecna, USA, on a major US Defense Department study of border security and customs administration in Afghanistan. We also work as a national security advisor to the Computer Science Corporation in providing counterproliferation training in Central Asia.

Global Trade Systems has worked with importers and third party logistics providers to improve customs compliance and to increase the security of their supply chains. We developed a Security-Risk Assessment Simplified™ model that guides companies in bringing greater resiliency to their operations and helps them recognize threats to their firms at the operational and strategic level.

Prior to founding GTS, Philip Spayd was a US Customs senior executive service manager. His articles on trade issues appear regularly in the trade and transportation press.