The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) is holding its Commission meeting on Customs and Trade Facilitation, chaired by Mr. Norman Schenk, Vice President, Global Customs Policy and Public Affairs, United Parcel Service, United Parcel Service (UPS), at WCO Headquarters on 3 and 4 November 2016.

On this occasion, WCO Secretary General Kunio Mikuriya addressed the participants to the meeting by thanking them for their continued engagement with the WCO as a long-standing partner and highlighted the importance of a good working relationship between Customs Administrations and Trade.

Against that background, Dr Mikuriya went quickly through a number of important issues that are currently on the table such as the role of Customs Administrations and WCO in the implementation of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA). Since 96 WTO Members have ratified the Agreement, its entry into force is imminent. The WCO can support its actual implementation process, given the fact that almost all the provisions to be implemented are Customs related.

Secretary General Mikuriya went on to draw the attention of the audience to the issue of e-Commerce, which is of growing importance to Customs and Trade and the first meeting of the Working Group on e-Commerce in September testifies of its significance.

Among the other topics touched upon by Dr. Mikuriya: Tax and Customs cooperation, Digital Customs, as well as the key role played by Customs in the field of security as well as in the fight against the illicit trade in endangered species. Responding to questions from the group, Dr Mikuriya stressed the leading role of Customs in Coordinated Border Management, both from the Security and from the Trade Facilitation perspective.

The ICC and the WCO agreed to pursue their constructive dialogue and engagement.