The smooth flow of trade, much like the health of blood vessels in the human body, is vital to economic vitality. When goods face delays at customs, businesses bear increased time costs and operational burdens, ultimately undermining a nation's competitiveness. So, how can countries enhance clearance efficiency to keep the engine of trade running smoothly? The collaboration between the World Customs Organization (WCO) and Fiji offers valuable insights.
Fiji's Time Release Study (TRS) Project
The Fiji Customs Time Release Study (TRS) is a pivotal initiative designed to assess and optimize cargo clearance processes. By quantifying the time taken for goods to move from border arrival to final release, the study identifies bottlenecks and provides data-driven support for improvements. From December 17 to 21, 2018, the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS), with WCO assistance, hosted a national workshop in Suva to raise awareness about TRS and prepare for its implementation. Funded by the Japan Customs Cooperation Fund (CCF/Japan), the event brought together FRCS managers and representatives from key stakeholders, including the Biosecurity Authority of Fiji, Fiji Ports Corporation Limited, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, and the Immigration Department.
WCO's Role in Guidance and Support
The workshop was led by two experts—one from the WCO Secretariat in Brussels and another from the Lao People’s Democratic Republic Customs Department. Fazrul Rahman, FRCS Acting Manager of Tax Administration, delivered opening remarks on behalf of the CEO, acknowledging the long-standing cooperation among Fiji’s border agencies. Conducted in English, the workshop trained 26 customs officers and stakeholders in TRS methodology, enabling them to draft preliminary action plans for cargo clearance procedures. Participants explored the WCO’s TRS guidelines (3rd edition), practiced using WCO’s TRS software, and developed implementation strategies.
The TRS Methodology
The WCO’s Time Release Study is a systematic framework for measuring clearance times and identifying inefficiencies. Key steps include:
- Scope Definition: Clarifying the study’s focus—such as targeted goods, ports, or agencies—and setting objectives like bottleneck identification or evaluating trade facilitation measures.
- Data Collection: Gathering arrival, declaration, inspection, and release timestamps from customs systems, port records, and trader submissions, ensuring representative sampling.
- Data Analysis: Calculating average clearance times per stage, visualizing results, and pinpointing delays caused by documentation errors, inspection rates, or technological gaps.
- Evaluation: Benchmarking outcomes against targets or historical data to assess progress and cost-effectiveness.
- Action Plans: Proposing solutions like process automation, risk-based inspections, or interagency coordination, with clear timelines and responsibilities.
- Implementation: Executing improvements while monitoring impact through follow-up TRS cycles.
- Reporting: Publishing findings transparently to guide further trade facilitation policies.
This methodology equips customs administrations with tools to diagnose inefficiencies, prioritize reforms, and foster economic growth through trade.
Next Steps and Compliance with WTO Commitments
Under the drafted action plan, FRCS and partners will conduct independent TRS assessments to establish baseline metrics. Notably, Fiji acceded to the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) on May 1, 2017, classifying Article 7.6 (on measuring release times) as a Category C commitment with a 2019 implementation deadline. By adopting TRS, Fiji aligns with TFA’s call for members to regularly publish average clearance times using WCO-endorsed tools.
Leadership and Collaboration
FRCS CEO Visvanath Das emphasized the workshop’s role in uniting stakeholders to diagnose procedural hurdles and jointly craft trade-friendly solutions. He thanked the WCO for its timely support under the TFA framework. Participants lauded the event for deepening their grasp of TRS methodologies, while the WCO reaffirmed its commitment to assisting Fiji’s customs modernization.
Decoding TFA Article 7.6
The WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement’s Article 7.6 establishes transparency and performance benchmarks by requiring members to measure and publish average release times. Key aspects include:
- Standardized Measurement: Encouraging harmonized methodologies like the WCO TRS to ensure cross-border comparability.
- Transparency: Publicly sharing data to empower traders with predictable timelines.
- Continuous Improvement: Using metrics to refine processes iteratively.
- Capacity Building: Developed nations assist developing counterparts in implementing these systems.
This provision underscores the TFA’s goal of reducing trade costs through measurable, accountable customs operations.
A Model for Trade-Led Development
Fiji’s partnership with the WCO exemplifies how developing economies can leverage technical expertise to meet international trade obligations while boosting domestic efficiency. By institutionalizing TRS, Fiji not only fulfills TFA requirements but also lays groundwork for sustained economic growth. The WCO’s model offers a replicable blueprint for nations striving to modernize customs and energize global commerce.