The WCO has published the Agenda for the upcoming WCO Global Conference on Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs) and Trade Mis-invoicing which will take place at WCO Headquarters on 23 May 2018.

Since the WCO was referred to in the outcome documents from the 2016 and 2017 G20 Summits in Hangzhou and Hamburg, respectively, the Secretariat has concentrated its efforts on the production of a Study Report on the topic of IFFs and Trade Mis-invoicing. That Report, which is the culmination of many months of empirical analysis and collaboration between Administrations, the Secretariat and other industry experts, will provide a narrative background for the Conference, and will serve to inform Members of the pernicious impact IFFs and Trade Mis-invoicing can have on the economic welfare of a country, in addition to identifying best practices and policy recommendations. 

Among the major themes to be addressed during the Conference are: best practices in combating IFFs and Trade Mis-invoicing; assessing the magnitude of IFFs; and new technologies including Blockchain.

The Conference will feature experts from across a wide spectrum, including, but not limited to: the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD); Global Financial Integrity; Pennsylvania State University; the Institute for Austrian and International Tax Law; Malawi Customs and the Korea Customs Service.

Registration is free for Members, academic professionals and industry representatives. We look forward to seeing you on 23 May for what promises to be an interesting Conference in a rapidly-evolving field of great interest to Customs administrations, Financial Intelligence Units and many other stakeholders.

For further information on the Conference, including registration details, please consult the event page.