A Business Perspective on the World Customs Organization

1

• A Business Perspective on the World Customs
  Organization
• Task Force
• A presentation to the Customs and Trade
  Administration Consultative Committee (CTACC)
• January 29, 2003
• Carol West

2

• Unanimous approval for WCO resolution BUT
• Only about one-third of WCO members are
  represented on the task force (47 Customs
  Administrations)

3
International/regional organizations include

• EC
• EUROPOL
• INTERPOL
• IAEA

4
Business organizations include

• BIMCO IECC
• IAPH IFCBA
• IATA IMO
• ICB SITPRO
• ICC TIACA
• ICS

5
Role of International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)

• Commission on Customs and Trade Regulations
• WCO/ICC Open Day for Trade
• Joint meetings, seminars
• Country representation (18)
• U.S. dominated
• (multinational corporations)

6
Role of International Express Carriers Conference
(IECC)

• Leadership on issues of trade facilitation
• Evolution of BATF

7
Business Action for Trade Facilitation

• Link to WTO Doha agenda
• Current Participants ICS, IATA, AEA, FIATA,
  IRU, IFCBA, BIMCO, ESC, SITPRO, CLECAT, IECC,
  ICC
• Not only WCO which will affect matters of
  trade facilitation

8
Issues for Discussion

• Role of business in determining what will be
  done
• Role of business in determining how things
  will be done
• Addressing the cost to business
• Moving to harmonized procedures, global
  standards
• Keeping the goals of trade facilitation alive