The WCO attended the 8th ASEM Customs-Trade Day meeting and 11th Meeting of ASEM Working Group on Customs Matters (AWGCM), which were hosted by the National Revenue Administration of Poland from 25 to 27 April 2017. The AWGCM was attended by more than 60 representatives of Customs Administrations from ASEM Member States, the WCO and the European Commission, who were joined by the private sector representatives for the Customs-Trade day.

The theme of the 8th ASEM Customs-Trade day meeting was “e-commerce” where the WCO as well as representatives from the Customs and private sector were able to both share and discuss the initiatives taken at the WCO and the challenges faced by all.

The AWGCM discussed the preliminary results of activities coordinated by ASEM working teams on the ASEM Trade Facilitation Action Plan for 2016-2017, as well as the preparation of proposals for future actions, that will be adopted during the meeting of Customs Directors General in October this year in Berlin. The WCO presented the latest issues that were discussed during recent WCO Meetings.

The Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) is an informal process of dialogue and cooperation between the European Union Member States, the European Union, Norway, Switzerland, 21 Asian countries and the ASEAN Secretariat. ASEM addresses political, economic and cultural issues, with the objective of strengthening the relationship between the two regions. Customs issues play an important role in the ASEM activities. Regular meetings are held at two different levels. Directors General of Customs Administrations of the ASEM countries meet once every two years while the AWGCM meets annually, alternating between Europe and Asia.