What is the primary purpose of the "C-TPAT" program?

The primary purpose of the "Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism" (C-TPAT) program is indeed to enhance supply chain security through collaboration between U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the trade community. This voluntary program encourages businesses involved in international trade to take proactive measures in identifying and mitigating potential security risks within their supply chains.

By working together, participating companies and CBP can establish a more secure trade environment, which not only protects the U.S. borders from the smuggling of contraband and terrorism-related materials but also promotes the efficiency of the trade process. When businesses demonstrate their commitment to security protocols and practices, they may receive benefits such as reduced inspections and expedited customs processing.

In contrast, the other choices do not reflect the actual goals of the C-TPAT program. Tax collection efficiency, automating customs processes, and educating importers on tax laws are not central to C-TPAT's mission, which is fundamentally about collaborative security efforts rather than taxation or customs procedure automation.