The U.S. program that pre-approves low-risk shipments for expedited customs clearance is C-TPAT, short for Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism.
Launched by U.S. Customs and Border Protection in November 2001, C-TPAT is a voluntary partnership between the government and businesses involved in international trade. Companies seeking certification must document security practices and identify risks across their supply chains, from suppliers and manufacturers to carriers and import processes.
Certification does not mean every shipment is automatically cleared or exempt from inspection. Instead, CBP treats certified participants as lower risk, which can mean faster processing, fewer examinations, and access to other trusted-trader benefits. That distinction is a common source of confusion.
Global Entry is a traveler-screening program, while FAST focuses on eligible commercial truck traffic at U.S. borders. AEO is the broader international trusted-trader concept used by customs authorities in many countries; C-TPAT is the distinctly U.S. program named in this question.