OK, so let’s
get this straight – as my new friend Omar from Brazilian Customs Agency
reminded everyone – Customs Trade Facilitation is about making things easier
not about customs officials collecting facilitation fees. The 1st
is good news the second, well, illegal.
Anyway, today
was day one on Customs Trade Facilitation at the WCO and I got there early, got
my badge – meet my linkedin connection Greg Pilkington on reception and my
first new friend Tina from Jamaican Customs. We were eventually all taken
into the Kyoto Room for a group “hello” and then off into our separate training
rooms. Being in the WCO was obviously a thrill to most people as there
was a lot of picture taking; Susi from Singapore Customs snapped me in a nearly
empty room, not sure what I was laughing at though!
The
presentations made me realise that there is a lot of change ahead for us all
involved in international trade. This “trusted trader” partnership
between customs and industry is going to make a big impact to supply chain
costs and times very soon. There was quite a lot of interaction from the
delegates – for once I resisted the temptation to ask questions, happy to
listen to the others – and what struck me was the people here to learn about customs
procedures and trade facilitation had flown in from far more distant places
than I. In fact, apart from the organisers and speakers I met no-one from
Europe, Canada or the USA – maybe we think we know it all??!! The
conflict between facilitating trade and maintaining a secure supply chain came
across good and strong – it’s facilitation of legitimate trade that is being
developed, hence the need for accredited businesses (AEO as we call it in the
EU).
Key moments –
the ICC talking about their new initiative of accrediting the bodies that issue
Certificates of Origin and having an on-line checking system; the WTO nearing
the end of the Doha Round after 9 years (Bali December 2013 – maybe, perhaps)
with the signing of the Trade Facilitation Agreement; the cost of customs
administration on exports (Chad 1 container takes 101 days of work at USD8525
to export/ Singapore 4 days of work, cost USD425) and learning about the WCO
Economic Competitive Package (ECP) aimed at facilitation. Of course the
best bit really is meeting such great people from all over the world has
interested in customs issues as I am – nice to know I’m not the only sad person
around!
I’m off to
dinner with Marisa from Zambian Customs and a couple of guys from
Vietnam. Strange thing about Brussels – none of our hotel restaurants are
open for evening meals because it’s the summer??!! – Anyway I’m sure we’ll find
somewhere nice to eat. And more trade facilitation to look forward to
tomorrow.
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