BRUSSELS — As global trade faces unprecedented challenges and opportunities, the World Customs Organization (WCO) recently convened the 28th meeting of its SAFE Working Group (SWG) at its headquarters, bringing together customs officials, private sector representatives, and international experts to strengthen the framework securing worldwide commerce.
The SAFE Framework (Framework of Standards to Secure and Facilitate Global Trade), established in 2005, serves as the cornerstone of global supply chain security. Its dual pillars focus on customs-to-customs cooperation and public-private partnerships, particularly through the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) program that grants expedited clearance to vetted traders.
Key Outcomes from the 28th SWG Meeting
Chaired by WCO's Pranab Kumar Das, the meeting celebrated completion of the 2021 SAFE review cycle despite pandemic disruptions. Das highlighted successful public-private collaborations that produced tools like the online AEO Guide and e-learning verification courses.
Delegates achieved consensus on several critical initiatives:
Implementation Monitoring: Finalized a draft questionnaire to assess SAFE Framework adoption globally, establishing baseline metrics for future improvements.
Digital and Green Initiatives: Aligned SWG activities with the WCO Data Strategy for enhanced risk analysis and the Green Customs Initiative promoting sustainable trade practices.
Capacity Building: Advanced training programs including AEO verification courses on WCO's CLiKC! platform, supported by UK funding through the Accelerate Trade Facilitation program.
Strategic Planning: Extended the SAFE review cycle to 2025 to align with WCO's three-year strategic planning period, allowing comprehensive evaluation of framework effectiveness.
Strengthening Border Coordination
The meeting endorsed the third edition of the ICAO-WCO Joint Guidance on Air Cargo Security, completing their 2020-2022 action plan. A separate working group is developing Customs-Port Cooperation Guidelines in collaboration with the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH).
Future Directions
The 29th SWG session, scheduled for April 2023, will continue refining the SAFE Framework to address emerging challenges like e-commerce growth and supply chain digitization. These efforts aim to maintain the framework's role as the global standard for secure, efficient trade.