International trade is one of the key drivers of global economic growth. In today's globalised world, the cargo supply chains are complex and involve a great number and variety of parties. Unfortunately, these supply chains are also vulnerable to exploitations such as theft, pilferage and in the worst case scenario, exploitation by terrorists to further their own ends. Guarding against such scenarios is thus of vital importance as the global trading system cannot afford the consequences of a destructive attack.

To guard against such exploitations, the supply chain has to be secured. Supply chain security can only be achieved by looking at supply chains in total, and not by focusing on individual nodes and links in isolation. It is often said that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Securing the supply chain involves the securing of every node and link along the chain, creating a chain of responsibility that extends beyond that of each individual node and its links.

The securing of the supply chain must start with the safe and secure packing of shipment and include measures that deter or provide alerts of any tampering of the shipment as it progressively moves from the point of packing to the final point of deconsolidation.

Several countries and international organisations have developed or are developing programmes that encompass guidelines and best practices for ensuring the security of the cargo, processes, and personnel involved in every movement through the supply chain. The following are some examples of supply chain security programmes:

• United States’ Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT)
• European Union Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme 
• New Zealand's Secure Exports Scheme
• WCO Framework Of Standards To Secure And Facilitate Global Trade
• ISO/PAS 28000, 28001

Singapore, being a key node in the global network of supply chains, aims to raise the level of supply chain security standards among the companies in Singapore with the implementation of a national supply chain security programme.

In July 2006, Singapore announced the implementation of a National Supply Chain Security Programme which has been named as the Secure Trade Partnership (STP).