(ii) World Customs Organization (WCO) The World Customs Organization and Trade Facilitation

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, Automated System of Customs Data Customs Project

Free trade, customs union, economic partnership

The determination of customs duties and other foreign trade revenue.

By equipping customs administrations with appropriate tools, ASYCUDA can be (1) a true instrument for customs reform, and (2) a valid tool for trade facilitation and trade efficiency.

Customs and related trade procedures require streamlining and simplification to enhance trade efficiency and to reap the potential benefits of trade accords.

The negotiations shall also aim to achieve effective cooperation between customs and any other appropriate authorities on trade facilitation and customs compliance issues.

Free trade, customs union, economic partnership or common market agreements

TD SYMP.TE 2 in each of the trade efficiency sectors (customs, transport, banking and insurance, business information, trade facilitation and telecommunications)

II Selected free trade, customs union, economic partnership or common market

To assist developing countries with trade by removing import and export bottlenecks and improving customs

International trade requires simple trade formalities, procedures and operations, cooperative Customs administration apos s attitude, and efficient door to door logistics chains.

Trade efficiency reduced transaction costs, and in areas such as customs, transport, banking and insurance, it could offer invaluable support to trade.

The secretariat has continued to cooperate with the World Customs Organization and the Committee on Trade and Environment of the World Trade Organization.

The main trade facilitation instrument of the World Customs Organization (WCO) is the Revised Kyoto Convention (International Convention on the Simplification and Harmonization of Customs Procedures), regarded as a blueprint for modern customs procedures. It covers all core customs procedures, and provides for transparent and simple processes.

Trade depends on effective financial systems for imports and exports, including cargo insurance and customs guarantee schemes.

From the point of view of prevention of illegal trade it is very important that HCFCs are included since otherwise CFCs could be traded under trade names and customs codes of HCFCs, thereby escaping by and large customs controls.

Regional cooperation was important to improve effectiveness of customs controls, and the development of informal regional networks of customs officials could be beneficial in combating illegal trade.

To ensure harmonization of customs legislation and reduce the differences in the amounts of customs duties and indirect charges, and to adopt an agreed decision on unified principles for the conduct of customs controls in trade with one another

SELECTED FREE TRADE, CUSTOMS UNION, ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP OR COMMON MARKET AGREEMENTS WITH COMPETITION LAW AND POLICY PROVISIONS

Players that would need to be interviewed are customs management and staff, customs brokers (clearing and forwarding agents), business organisations (chambers of commerce), forwarding and clearing associations, traders, and trade policy officials.

At the second meeting, UNCTAD tabled a discussion paper with a proposal for closer cooperation on customs modernization, ASYCUDA, trade facilitation and the establishment of a permanent customs committee.

This should include individual trade flows by partner countries under the MFN, GSP and LDC rates, preferential trade within free trade agreements, customs unions or other preferential arrangements, trade under outward processing regimes, and autonomous tariff rates.

The Framework is designed to encourage cooperation among international customs administrations and the trade community to secure international supply chains and facilitate the flow of legitimate trade.

The meeting discussed a variety of issues related to trade facilitation in general and customs computerization in particular.

To bear fruit, efforts should be addressed not only at the trade transaction itself, but to all trade supporting services sectors (e.g. customs, transport, banking and insurance, trade facilitation, business information and telecommunications).

5. Related to the trade efficiency initiative is the Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA).

Although the collection of revenues and duties remains an important function, Customs role with regard to protection of society, security and facilitation of legitimate trade is clearly recognized within the Customs community.

Among the tools and instruments available to improve transit trade were transit transport regimes, customs systems and cargo tracking schemes.

For the United Nations International Symposium on Trade Efficiency (UNISTE), the WCO prepared the guidelines and recommendations on customs.

Nevertheless, customs records on illegal shipments do not necessarily reveal the full dimension of such trade.

The use of modern technology allowed trade facilitation while at the same time strengthening Customs control.

The Peruvian customs administration, which was a member of the World Customs Organization, operated a national and international information network which allowed it to collect data on the illicit trade in weapons and explosives and to exchange such information with customs authorities all over the world.

It considers approaches to the regional customs intelligence network as an effective way to improve the customs enforcement on the cross border illicit arms trade in the region.

He greatly valued country level assistance in areas such as customs reforms, debt management, and trade and investment related technical assistance.

In particular, it will focus on trade supporting services, including the strengthening of transport efficiency, trade facilitation and customs and legal frameworks economic applications of information and communication technologies and development of the capacity of trade and training institutions.

These projects include the compilation, review and implementation of measures to facilitate trade flows, to promote national transport activities, to increase awareness on efficient commercial practices in international trade, as well as to provide Customs administrations with proper working tools designed to increase efficiency and transparency in Customs clearance time and revenue collection and to generate timely and reliable trade data.

(d) Trade facilitation in the context of ASYCUDA, the formulation of training programmes in customs, in particular the establishment of customs training centres where they do not exist, and training for technical (computer) staff in the field, and functional courses in risk assessment, customs management techniques, etc.

In addition, ICTs enable trade in other sectors by enhancing market access and broadening the customer base, facilitating customs, transport and logistics.

Microeconomic factors for investment site selection included the corporate tax structure, trade and customs regimes, the labour market situation and financial infrastructure.

With regard to support to trade efficiency, a demonstration and implementation support base will be established for improved customs and transport systems.

Customs declaration for goods and vehicles should be presented to the customs entities before customs control is applied to the goods and vehicles, before they undergo customs processing and are released from customs control.

(a) In the two customs zones, i.e. the land customs zone and the maritime customs zone

The target beneficiaries of the project will be national statistical offices and customs authorities, trade regime policymakers, the private sector and other businesses related to international trade in the 13 ESCWA member countries.

Particular attention should be given to ASYCUDA, which is a computerized customs management system covering most foreign trade procedures.