• 93^rd Session of the Policy Commission, WCO’s steering body, concludes after three successful days, hosted by the Tax Administration of Guatemala (SAT) in Antigua.
• Discussions focused on focus areas from the WCO Strategic Plan, current issues in global Customs and setting the way ahead for the Organization in the coming months.
• Session addressed by WCO Secretary General, Council Chairman and Superintendent of Tax Administration of Guatemala, and the Vice-Minister of Public Finance of Guatemala.

WCO’s Strategic Plan in Action

Opening the three days of discussions, WCO Secretary General, Ian Saunders, welcomed delegates and expressed sincere appreciation to Guatemala for its warm hospitality and to the attending government representatives, whose presence underscored Guatemala’s strong support for international Customs cooperation.

The Secretary General highlighted the significance of this session as the first following the approval of the Strategic Plan 2025-2028. Acknowledging the growing complexity of global trade and the threats posed by transnational criminal organizations, he pointed to the need for adaptability, stronger partnerships, and effective use of information.

Discussions centred around the Focus Areas of the Strategic Plan, notably Data and Technology, e-Commerce and Green Customs. Participants also addressed the issue of Supply Chain Integrity anchored on the need to ensure that goods move securely, legally and transparently, while preventing the risks of fraud, counterfeiting, illicit trafficking or terrorism in a context of accelerating flows and diversifying risks. The Policy Commission likewise deliberated on important governance topics, including the implementation of the WCO Modernization Plan and the implementation of the Strategic Plan.

Policy Commission: A focal point for Customs

The Chairperson of the Council, Mr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, expressed deep gratitude to the Government and people of Guatemala, acknowledging their exceptional hospitality. He underlined Guatemala’s longstanding commitment to international trade, regional integration and a modern Customs administration - priorities shared by the many administrations present.

He then reflected on the strategic importance of the Policy Commission as the forum where the WCO’s direction was shaped, noting that the issues facing Customs, such as trade complexity, criminal networks, digital transformation, environmental sustainability, workforce inclusion, and capacity building, directly affected Customs performance worldwide. He stressed the need for productive deliberations that strengthened the collective capacity to facilitate legitimate trade while safeguarding societies.

Guatemala’s commitment to international Customs cooperation

Werner Ovalle, Superintendent of Tax Administration of Guatemala, said it was an honour to host the 93^rd Session of the WCO Policy Commission, noting that he welcomed the international community’s confidence in Guatemala’s institutions and its long-standing commitment to Customs cooperation. He emphasized that, for Guatemala, modernization, transparency and cooperation had been key pillars in strengthening competitiveness, security and trade governance. He further highlighted the remarkable progress achieved since Guatemala’s accession to the WCO in 1985.

Through close cooperation with the WCO, the Administration had established itself as a modern and efficient one. Guatemala welcomed all delegations in a spirit of friendship and cooperation, reaffirming its commitment to building a more modern, transparent and reliable global Customs system, aligned with the WCO vision that “borders divide; Customs connects”.

The Vice-Minister of Public Finance of Guatemala, Patricia Joachin, noted that the decision to host this meeting reflected the country’s commitment and progress towards building a strong, technically oriented and internationally aligned Customs administration. Guatemala recognized the rapid transformation of global trade and the need for Customs administrations to become agile, predictive, interconnected and transparent. The Vice-Minister reaffirmed Guatemala’s commitment to contributing actively to the work of the WCO through technical exchange and collaboration.

Next steps

A detailed report of the meeting will be published at the end of December on the WCO website for WCO Members to consult.