China Calls for WTO Reform at Davos Meeting

China Calls for WTO Reform at Davos Meeting

At the WTO mini-ministerial meeting, China's representative Li Chenggang emphasized the urgency of WTO reform and proposed a pragmatic Chinese approach, including formulating a reform plan, incorporating the Investment Facilitation Agreement, and extending e-commerce tariff exemptions. Participants affirmed the WTO's role and supported reform. China's active participation aims to reshape the future of multilateral trade and promote global economic development. The proposals highlight China's commitment to a more efficient and inclusive global trading system. The focus is on practical solutions and cooperation to revitalize the WTO.

02/03/2026 Customs Knowledge
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Bolivia Strengthens Customs Leadership Amid Trade Challenges

Bolivia Strengthens Customs Leadership Amid Trade Challenges

Bolivia Customs recently held a successful high-level leadership development workshop aimed at enhancing the capabilities of its management team to address future challenges. Supported by the WCO-SECO Global Trade Facilitation Programme (GTFP), the initiative focused on strengthening team cohesion and improving management effectiveness through customized courses, team building activities, and negotiation skills training. This program lays a solid foundation for the future development of Bolivia Customs, equipping its leaders with the necessary skills and knowledge to navigate the evolving landscape of international trade and customs administration.

02/05/2026 Customs Knowledge
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WCO Study Shows Faster Customs Clearance Boosts Global Trade

WCO Study Shows Faster Customs Clearance Boosts Global Trade

The World Customs Organization's (WCO) Time Release Study (TRS) aims to help customs administrations identify bottlenecks, optimize processes, and improve trade facilitation by quantifying the time taken for goods to clear customs. This article uses the TRS workshop in Kyrgyzstan as an example to detail the implementation steps, benefits, and challenges of TRS. It also looks at future developments, emphasizing that TRS is a key tool for improving customs efficiency and promoting global trade. The study provides valuable insights for countries seeking to enhance their customs procedures and facilitate international commerce.

02/05/2026 Customs Knowledge
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WCO Unveils New Strategy for Sustainable Customs Development

WCO Unveils New Strategy for Sustainable Customs Development

The World Customs Organization (WCO)'s new capacity building paradigm aims for sustainable improvement and transformation through shared responsibility and results-orientation. It emphasizes precise needs identification, blended learning and support, and impact assessment. Addressing data challenges is crucial for building a sustainable capacity building ecosystem. This approach contributes to global trade facilitation and prosperity by ensuring that capacity building initiatives are effective, relevant, and lead to lasting positive change within customs administrations and the broader trade environment. The focus is on creating a self-sustaining system that supports continuous development.

02/05/2026 Customs Knowledge
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Burundi Customs Enhances African Trade with WCO Backing

Burundi Customs Enhances African Trade with WCO Backing

With support from the WCO and the EU, the Burundi Revenue Authority held a national workshop on customs laboratories and the Harmonized System classification of chemical products. The aim is to establish its own laboratory to improve tax collection efficiency, strengthen social and environmental protection, and promote trade facilitation. Guided by WCO experts and through learning technical standards, Burundi Customs is committed to building a first-class customs laboratory, contributing significantly to Burundi's economic development. This initiative is crucial for modernizing customs operations and ensuring compliance with international standards.

02/05/2026 Customs Knowledge
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Jordan Customs Boosts Air Cargo Efficiency with WCO Risk Management

Jordan Customs Boosts Air Cargo Efficiency with WCO Risk Management

The World Customs Organization (WCO) held a follow-up risk management workshop for the Jordan Customs Department (JCD) to enhance its air cargo clearance capabilities and develop a national risk management plan. Through expert guidance and collaboration, Jordan Customs completed a risk management enhancement plan and committed to its practical application, contributing to trade facilitation and security. The workshop aimed to strengthen JCD's ability to identify and mitigate risks, ultimately improving efficiency and security within the supply chain. This initiative underscores the importance of effective risk management in modern customs administration.

02/05/2026 Customs Knowledge
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Wcos WACAM Project Modernizes HR in West and Central African Customs

Wcos WACAM Project Modernizes HR in West and Central African Customs

The WCO-WACAM project supports the modernization and upgrade of human resource management in customs administrations in West and Central Africa. Through regional workshops and technical assistance, it assists customs agencies in the region to reform their HR management systems. The project aims to build a competency-based HR management system, improve the overall quality and efficiency of customs staff, and promote trade facilitation and economic development. The initiatives are designed to enhance customs workforce capabilities and contribute to regional economic growth by streamlining customs processes and improving overall performance.

02/05/2026 Customs Knowledge
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WTO Explores Streamlining Trade Under GATT Rules

WTO Explores Streamlining Trade Under GATT Rules

This paper analyzes several measures proposed by the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu to improve the implementation of GATT Articles VIII and X, including advance clearance, risk management, express clearance, advance tariff classification rulings, and single window services. Combining international practices and expert opinions, it assesses the feasibility and potential impact of these measures. The study offers further recommendations aimed at promoting trade facilitation, enhancing customs efficiency, and reducing operational costs for businesses. The goal is to streamline processes and improve overall trade competitiveness.

02/05/2026 Customs Knowledge
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New Customs System Enhances Trade Efficiency

New Customs System Enhances Trade Efficiency

This paper delves into the customs guarantee system, a trade facilitation measure advocated by Canada and Switzerland, designed to allow importers to retrieve goods before final tariff determination. It elaborates on the core principles, implementation details, advantages, challenges, and the rights and limitations of customs inspection within this system. The article emphasizes its significant role in improving customs clearance efficiency, optimizing the trade environment, and reducing the burden on businesses. It calls for countries to actively learn from experiences and improve their customs guarantee systems, fostering smoother international trade.

02/05/2026 Customs Knowledge
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New Zealand Calls for Transparent Tariff Rules to Facilitate Trade

New Zealand Calls for Transparent Tariff Rules to Facilitate Trade

New Zealand submitted a proposal to the WTO advocating for an objective and transparent tariff classification system. The proposal calls for avoiding arbitrary and unfair classifications and suggests the unified application of the HS coding system. It emphasizes special and differential treatment for developing countries, along with the importance of technical assistance and capacity building. The proposal aims to promote global trade facilitation by ensuring predictable and equitable tariff classifications, thereby reducing trade barriers and fostering a more efficient international trading environment. This contributes to smoother cross-border trade and economic growth.

02/05/2026 Customs Knowledge
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