From 23 to 25 October 2023, the World Customs Organization (WCO) organized a study visit on e-commerce for the Colombian Customs Administration (DIAN) in Santiago, Chile. This visit was conducted as part of the SECO-WCO Global Trade Facilitation Programme (GTFP) to enhance the capacities of DIAN through knowledge exchange with the Customs Administration of Chile.
Throughout a series of field visits, the Colombian delegation engaged in working sessions with the Metropolitan Regional Customs Directorate and the Technical Subdirectorate of the Chilean Customs Administration to analyze postal and courier practices. These sessions provided firsthand insights into e-commerce frameworks and import and export procedures and Post-Clearance Audits related to this matter. Additionally, the Chilean Customs Administration shared practical experiences in this field regarding the flow and controls for express shipments at the Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport in Santiago, Chile.
Given the substantial global growth in online shopping operations, the Colombian Customs Administration has been actively identifying areas for optimization in handling courier and postal cargo within the country. This activity was a continuation of the previous 2021 Virtual Workshop on E-commerce for the Pacific Alliance, where Colombia, Peru, Chile, and Mexico exchanged valuable experiences and identified regional recommendations related to e-commerce cargo processing and clearance procedures.
The SECO-WCO GTFP strongly believes in the importance of peer-to-peer collaboration in the journey towards trade facilitation, and, together with the WCO, we express our appreciation to the Customs Administration of Chile for their valuable support and collaboration.
For more information on the GTFP, please contact capacity.building@wcoomd.org.