On 24 May 2023, the Eswatini Revenue Service (ERS), in partnership with the World Customs Organization (WCO), launched the electronic Advance Ruling Tool (e-ART), in Mbabane, Eswatini. The e-ART aims to provide binding Customs decisions on classification and origin of commodities prior to their entry to or exit from the country. It represents a significant achievement for the ERS, following the launch of the Electronic Tariff Tool in 2021 and a series of technical assistance and support to implement advance rulings under the EU-HS Africa Programme as well as wider trade facilitation measures under the framework of the multi-year partnership with the Accelerate Trade Facilitation Programme as funded by the United Kingdom.
In his opening remarks, the Eswatini Minister of Finance, Mr. Neal Rijkenberg, highlighted the importance of the Web-based e-ART, as a major contribution to the country’s trade facilitation endeavours. He expressed his appreciation to the WCO for the continuous capacity building and technical assistance provided, namely under the WCO’s EU HS-Africa Programme and Accelerate Trade Facilitation Programme.
Dr. Kunio Mikuriya, Secretary General of the WCO, addressed a video message to the audience congratulating ERS for such an achievement and the values it represents in terms of partnership, commitment, political will and customer service. He highlighted that the introduction of this tool will fulfil Eswatini’s efforts in aligning to the requirements under the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), and African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) as well as the best practices enriched in the WCO Recommendation on the introduction of programmes for binding pre-entry classification information (1996).
The EU Ambassador and the UK High Commissioner stressed the importance of partnerships in delivering on common development objectives. They underlined the benefits of the tool for small and medium enterprises and the role it shall play in unfolding the full potential of regional and continental trade facilitation and with that foster sustainable development.
The ERS Commissioner General and the CEO of Business Eswatini, echoed the importance of partnerships and recognized the importance of such achievements in enhancing trust and advancing a prosperous environment for trade facilitation. The e-ART is a concrete step in ERS's vision to mobilize and create easy-to-use digital platforms that benefit Customs and support the engagement of the trading community by fostering a business enabling environment.
The e-ART tool will be used by the traders to electronically submit requests for advance rulings, and ERS Customs’ officers will review, assess, deliver and publish the advance rulings. The introduction of the e-ART tool will enhance predictability, prevent delays and uncertainty, and help traders make informed business decisions based on legally binding rulings.
For more information, please contact hs@wcoomd.org.
For more information on the Accelerate Trade Facilitation Programme as supported by the United Kingdom’s His Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC), please see here.