BIC with 1200 members, is the only non-governmental organization linking all groups interested in containerization and intermodal transport: carriers, manufacturers, operators, lessors, shippers, forwarders, etc…
Its goals are:

• to contribute to the expansion of containerization and intermodal transport;
• to facilitate professional discussions on all subjects connected with containers and intermodal transport;
• and to obtain and keep updated specialised documentation for the benefit of its members.

The Codex Alimentarius Commission, also known as CAC, is the central part of the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme and was established by FAO and WHO to protect consumer health and promote fair practices in food trade. WCO is working with Codex in the area of cross-border movement of food, in particular with regard to Coordinated Border Management, data harmonisation and standardisation and Single Window.

CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) is an international agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. WCO is working with CITES in the area of combatting illegal trade and facilitating legal cross-border movement of CITES listed species, in particular with regard to Coordinated Border Management, data harmonisation and standardisation and Single Window.

The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) was founded in 1960 on the premise of free trade as a means of achieving growth and prosperity amongst its Member States as well as promoting closer economic co-operation between the Western European countries. Furthermore, the EFTA countries wished to contribute to the expansion of trade in the world at large. The EFTA members are Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

The WCO and the European Union enjoy a close relationship. The European Commission attends several of the WCO technical committees – particularly those within the competency of the Procedures and Facilitation Sub Directorate – namely the Permanent Technical Committee, the Information Management Sub-Committee, the WCO/IATA/ICAO API Contact Committee, the Administrative Committee for the Istanbul/ATA Convention and the Administrative Committee on the Customs Convention on Containers of 1972.

The Federation of National Associations of Ship Brokers & Agents (FONASBA) provides a united voice for the world’s ship brokers and agents. The Federation has consultative status at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), United Nations Conference on Trade & Development (UNCTAD) and the World Customs Organisation (WCO). We also work closely with ship owning bodies BIMCO, Intercargo and Intertanko.

TIACA is the only worldwide organization which brings together all the links of the air logistics chain. Its mission is to advance the interests of the air cargo industry and strengthen its contribution to world trade expansion. TIACA is pledged to support and assist progressive liberalization of the global market and easier, enhanced trade between developing and developed economies.

The WCO has been working closely with IATA on several fronts, including: Advanced Passenger Information (API); Advanced Cargo Information (ACI); and IATA E-freight project. The WCO was invited to be involved in the IATA E-freight project which aims at creating a paperless environment with the goal to remove all papers for all stakeholders from air cargo transportation by 2010.

IAPH is often referred to as the "United Ports of the World", in which active players in the global port community, namely Port CEOs, Port Directors and Port Managers are represented to promote and advance their common cause and interests.

To accomplish its goals, IAPH strives to achieve the following mission; to promote the development of the international port and maritime industry by fostering cooperation among members in order to build a more cohesive partnership among the world's ports and harbors, thereby promoting peace in the world and the welfare of mankind.

In order toensure that the industry's interests and views are represented before international organizations involved in the regulation of international trade and transportation and that they are incorporated in the regulatory initiatives of these organizations; and to collect, analyze, exchange and distribute information on developing trends in international trade, transportation, ports and the regulations of these industries.

ICC (International Chamber of Commerce) activities cover a broad spectrum, from arbitration and dispute resolution to making the case for open trade and the market economy system, business self-regulation, fighting corruption or combating commercial crime.

ICC has direct access to national governments all over the world through its national committees. The organization's Paris-based international secretariat feeds business views into intergovernmental organizations on issues that directly affect business operations.

FIATA, a non-governmental organisation, represents today an industry covering approximately 40,000 forwarding and logistics firms, also known as the "Architects of Transport", employing around 8 - 10 million people in 150 countries.

FIATA has consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations (inter alia ECE, ESCAP, ESCWA), the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and the UN Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL).

It is recognised as representing the freight forwarding industry by many other governmental organisations, governmental authorities, private international organisations in the field of transport such as the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the International Union of Railways (UIC), the International Road Transport Union (IRU), the World Customs Organization (WCO), the World Trade Organization (WTO), etc.

IPCSA is the successor to the European Port Community Systems Association (ECPSA) which was launched in June 2011 by six founding members, all European-based Port Community System operators.

IPCSA and its members play a vital role in global trade facilitation; the electronic communications platforms provided by Port Community Systems ensure smooth transport and logistics operations at hundreds of sea ports, airports and inland ports. WCO is working with IPCSA in the area of data harmonisation and standardisation for the maritime sector.

The International Rail Transport Committee (CIT) is an association of some 216 railway undertakings and shipping companies which provide international passenger and/or freight services. 130 organisations are members in their own right, 80 organisations are linked indirectly by being members of CIT associate members.

The IRU, through its national associations, represents the entire road transport industry world-wide. It speaks for the operators of coaches, taxis and trucks, from large transport fleets to driver-owners. In all international bodies that make decisions affecting road transport, the IRU acts as the industry's advocate. By working for the highest professional standards, the IRU improves the safety record and environmental performance of road transport and ensures the mobility of people and goods.

Among its practical services to the industry, the IRU is international guarantor of the TIR Carnet System under which trucks are sealed by customs upon departure and can cross several borders without further checks until they reach their destinations.

WCO and ISO are collaborating in the area of data harmonisation and standardisation. The Secretariat contributed to the work of the Maintenance Agency of the ISO standard 7372, which is the ISO equivalent to the United Nations Trade Element Directory (UNTDED). The ISO Council approved the Standard 7372 and the United Nations published it as UNTDED 2005 and ISO 7372:2005. The WCO is a member of ISO.s TC 8 Working Group, which is currently working on a Publicly Available Specification (PAS 28001) the forerunner of a full Standard on supply chain security.

PAS 28001 is intended to help an organization establish a minimum level of security in the supply chain and to meet applicable WCO requirements for Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Status. The WCO is seeking to ensure, that PAS 28001 fully complies with SAFE.

The Global Express Association represents the international express delivery companies that serve over 215 countries, carrying over 30 million packages each day, all of them guaranteed to be delivered within specified time frames. This guarantee makes express delivery unique in the transportation industry and enable its customers to operate over broad territories with a high degree of confidence.

The objectives of the GFP is to pull together all interested parties, public and private, national and international, who want to help achieve significant improvements in transport and trade facilitation in the world). The WCO is a core member of the GFP together with the World Bank, UNCTAD, UNIDO, UN/ECE, TIACA, IRU and BULPRO.

The Secretariat of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) was established in 1992 by FAO in recognition of the increasing roles of the IPPC.

WCO is working with IPPC in the area of cross-border movement of agricultural products, in particular with regard to Coordinated Border Management, data harmonisation and standardisation and Single Window.