The WCO Private Sector Consultative Group (PSCG) held a hybrid meeting at WCO Headquarters on 20 and 21 June 2022, for the first time in over two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants discussed critical topics including, among others, business resumption, the WCO Data Strategy and Green Customs. During the meeting, the PSCG also met with the WCO Secretary General and Deputy Secretary General to exchange views on these critical issues.

On 22 June 2022, a Dialogue between the PSCG and members of the WCO Policy Commission (PC) was held for the first time in three years.  Policy Commission members recognized and appreciated the enormous efforts invested by the private sector in working with the WCO and Customs administrations in overcoming the challenges posed by severely disrupted supply chains.

During the discussions,  participants actively engaged in exchanging lessons learned and best practices for Customs and businesses to prepare for any future pandemics. The PSCG acknowledged that the COVID-19 pandemic had proven how interconnected economies are in today’s globalized world, and what a vital role Customs plays as connectors of global supply chains.  PC and PSCG members agreed that trade facilitation measures that had proven beneficial for businesses during the pandemic should not be rolled back, but should be made permanent to foster business resumption, taking into account modern technologies and robust stakeholder engagements.

The Dialogue also provided an opportunity for the PC to obtain feedback from the PSCG on essential issues that are considered to be key aspects of the WCO Strategic Plan, related to the Data Strategy and Green Customs. Participants acknowledged that the implementation of trade facilitation needed to be leveraged to reduce carbon emissions along supply chains, and referred to several practical and operational steps that had been taken to significantly reduce the Organization’s carbon footprint, such as implementing a paperless and “no single plastic use” culture.

Finally, the Dialogue also voiced support for the WCO Data Strategy, recognizing the power of data for strategic planning and intelligence, and generating statistics for Customs and trade use.