WASHINGTON -- Leaders of the Senate Finance Committee have filed legislation that is designed to help facilitate trade at U.S. ports and borders.

The Customs and Trade Facilitation Act of 2005 was introduced Friday by Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., the chairman and senior Democrat on the finance committee.

Among its provisions, the bill would:

-- Add Customs personnel at all ports of entry

-- Require Customs to enhance its targeting and analysis, and create a plan for resuming commerce after an incident

-- Authorize Customs to negotiate bilateral partnerships such as the Container Security Initiative, and multilateral negotiations for trade facilitation with the World Customs Organization and Worth Trade Organization

-- Authorize a "Customs Industry Partnership Program," to include the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism, and provide benefits to businesses that secure themselves and meet standards for physical security

-- Require implementation of the International Trade Data System

- Add personnel to the Treasury Department for oversight of Customs' trade functions

- Increase the number of Customs import specialists

The bill also calls for a study of the competitiveness of U.S. port and terminal operators, and streamlines and automates the duty drawback process.

In a prepared statement Grassley said that the bill sets the right balance between security and trade facilitation.