Imagine a world where customs administrations operate like perfectly synchronized gears, enabling seamless cargo clearance, significantly reducing business operational costs, and fostering vibrant international trade. This is not a distant utopian vision but an achievable reality being actively pursued through the World Customs Organization's (WCO) Economic Competitiveness Package (ECP). Since its launch in 2012, the program has made substantial strides in enhancing global trade efficiency and promoting sustainable economic development.
Implementation Framework
The WCO formally approved the ECP Action Plan during the 68th Policy Commission meeting in December 2012, establishing a comprehensive framework for implementation. The Secretariat regularly submits progress reports to both the Permanent Technical Committee (PTC) and the Policy Commission, with the most recent submission occurring during the March 2014 PTC meeting (Document PC0358).
Key Achievements
The ECP Action Plan comprises 21 specific initiatives, each with defined deadlines and responsible entities. Between January 2013 and September 2014, significant progress was made in several critical areas:
1. Awareness Building and Needs Assessment
- Conducted over 80 meetings emphasizing ECP's importance and introducing relevant tools
- Successfully organized regional ECP workshops across all six WCO regions
- Developed practical toolkits including the ECP Toolkit, WTO Trade Facilitation Toolkit, and Revised Kyoto Convention (RKC) Toolkit
2. Promotion of Existing Tools
- Delivered 40+ national/regional capacity-building workshops on ECP-related instruments
- Certified 13 experts to conduct specialized capacity-building activities
- Held four regional donor coordination meetings to optimize resource allocation
- Organized 20 regional/national workshops on RKC implementation
3. Knowledge Sharing
- Compiled innovative practices regarding informal trade, Coordinated Border Management (CBM), SME facilitation, and transit procedures
- Hosted a June 2013 research conference on informality, international trade, and customs
4. Program Development
New instruments including the CBM Compendium, Transit Handbook, SME Business Perspective Checklist, and Customs-Business Partnership Guide are currently under discussion within relevant WCO working bodies.
Detailed Action Progress
The implementation status of specific initiatives demonstrates the program's comprehensive approach:
Action 1: A robust communication strategy has been executed through multiple channels including conferences, seminars, and digital platforms, significantly improving stakeholder understanding.
Action 2: Comprehensive needs assessments through surveys and regional consultations have identified common priorities in trade facilitation and border management while recognizing regional specificities.
Action 3: The ECP Toolkit has been successfully deployed, offering practical guidance on trade facilitation, risk management, and customs modernization.
Action 4-6: Enhanced cooperation mechanisms have been established both regionally (e.g., Asian Development Bank partnership) and domestically between customs and other government agencies/private sector entities.
Action 7: SME support initiatives include specialized clearance services and procedural simplifications to reduce trade barriers for small businesses.
Action 8-9: Advanced risk management frameworks and trade facilitation measures like Single Window systems have been implemented across multiple jurisdictions.
Action 10-14: Significant progress in implementing the Revised Kyoto Convention, CBM methodologies, transit management systems, and Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) programs.
Action 15-21: Sustained capacity-building efforts, improved data analytics, strengthened international cooperation, and robust monitoring mechanisms ensure the program's continued evolution and relevance.
Conclusion
The WCO's Economic Competitiveness Package continues to demonstrate measurable impact in streamlining global trade operations. By reducing transaction costs, enhancing procedural efficiency, and fostering institutional cooperation, the initiative contributes substantially to sustainable economic development worldwide. The organization remains committed to advancing this comprehensive program to cultivate a more open, efficient, and secure international trading environment.