WCO Aids Guatemala in Boosting Trade for Economic Growth

WCO Aids Guatemala in Boosting Trade for Economic Growth

The World Customs Organization (WCO), through the Mercator Programme, provides technical assistance to Guatemala's Tax Administration (SAT) to effectively implement trade facilitation measures. Following an assessment, a WCO expert team offered recommendations for improvement, covering areas such as information transparency, procedural simplification, risk management, inter-agency cooperation, and private sector involvement. The WCO committed to providing follow-up support to help Guatemala enhance trade efficiency and promote economic growth. This initiative aims to streamline customs processes and boost Guatemala's participation in global trade.

01/26/2026 Customs Knowledge
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Seychelles Customs Officials Enhance Valuation Skills in WCO Training

Seychelles Customs Officials Enhance Valuation Skills in WCO Training

The World Customs Organization (WCO) conducted a customs valuation training in Seychelles to enhance the practical skills of the country's customs officers. The training focused on the core principles of the WTO Agreement on Customs Valuation, combining theoretical knowledge with practical exercises. This initiative is part of the WCO's capacity building project, aimed at assisting developing countries in improving customs administration, promoting trade facilitation, and increasing revenue collection. Accurate customs valuation is crucial for ensuring revenue integrity and maintaining fair trade practices.

01/26/2026 Customs Knowledge
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COSCO Launches Chinaeurope Rail Service to Boost Land Logistics

COSCO Launches Chinaeurope Rail Service to Boost Land Logistics

COSCO SHIPPING goes 'onshore'! The inaugural COSCO SHIPPING Lines China-Europe Railway Express (Wuhan) marks a significant step in its multimodal transportation strategy. By collaborating with Wuhan, COSCO SHIPPING integrates sea and land transportation resources to create a comprehensive supply chain service covering the Eurasian continent. This actively implements the 'Belt and Road' initiative. The company plans to deepen cooperation and jointly build multiple international transportation corridors in the future, further enhancing its global logistics network and contributing to international trade facilitation.

02/11/2026 Logistics
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Indonesia Boosts Global Trade with New WCO Customs Centers

Indonesia Boosts Global Trade with New WCO Customs Centers

The World Customs Organization (WCO) and Indonesian Customs have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a regional training center and a regional customs laboratory in Indonesia. This initiative aims to enhance the professional skills of regional customs personnel and improve commodity inspection capabilities. It will also help combat counterfeit goods, promote trade facilitation, and strengthen regional cooperation to address the challenges posed by the pandemic. This collaboration is expected to inject new vitality into the healthy development of global trade.

01/20/2026 Customs Knowledge
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Tanzania Upgrades Border Security with Smart Risk Management

Tanzania Upgrades Border Security with Smart Risk Management

Tanzania, with assistance from the World Customs Organization and the Japan International Cooperation Agency, is upgrading its customs risk management framework. This aims to enhance customs efficiency, promote trade facilitation, and combat smuggling through more precise risk identification and response. The upgrade is a significant step towards improving the country's customs administration and contributing to national economic development and trade security. The improved framework will allow for better resource allocation and targeted interventions, ultimately streamlining trade processes and reducing illicit activities.

01/20/2026 Customs Knowledge
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UK Nigeria Boost Trade Via Customs Partnership

UK Nigeria Boost Trade Via Customs Partnership

The UK's HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) collaborated with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to support the NCS in developing an AEO program compliant with WCO SAFE standards through AEO program benchmarking. This collaboration aims to strengthen trade partnerships between the two countries, enhance supply chain security and efficiency, and achieve trade facilitation, injecting new impetus into global trade development. The partnership leverages HMRC's experience to help NCS establish a robust and effective AEO program, ultimately fostering smoother and more secure international trade flows.

01/20/2026 Customs Knowledge
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Bolivia Customs Strengthens Leadership to Improve Trade

Bolivia Customs Strengthens Leadership to Improve Trade

In July 2022, Bolivian Customs held a high-level leadership retreat to enhance team capabilities, address future challenges, and strengthen teamwork and negotiation skills. The retreat focused on developing leadership qualities and fostering a collaborative environment within the customs administration. This initiative aimed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Bolivian Customs in facilitating trade and ensuring compliance with regulations. Ultimately, the goal was to equip the leadership team with the necessary tools to navigate complex issues and promote trade facilitation in Bolivia.

02/12/2026 Customs Knowledge
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Azerbaijan Honors WCO Chief for Customs Reform Efforts

Azerbaijan Honors WCO Chief for Customs Reform Efforts

World Customs Organization (WCO) Secretary General Kunio Mikuriya was awarded the “Order of Friendship” by the President of Azerbaijan for his outstanding contributions to customs reform in Azerbaijan. The article reviews the transformation of Azerbaijan's customs service, highlighting the WCO's supportive role and outlining future cooperation directions. It emphasizes the importance of international collaboration in customs modernization. The award recognizes Mikuriya's and the WCO's dedication to assisting Azerbaijan in enhancing its customs procedures and promoting efficient and secure trade facilitation.

02/12/2026 Customs Knowledge
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WCO Launches Global Effort to Stop Fake COVID19 Vaccines

WCO Launches Global Effort to Stop Fake COVID19 Vaccines

The World Customs Organization (WCO) launched the "Project on Urgent Facilitation and Coordination of Customs Controls over Cross-Border Movements of COVID-19 Related Goods" to combat the cross-border trafficking of counterfeit vaccines and other illicit goods while ensuring the smooth flow of legitimate vaccine shipments. Funded by Japan Customs, the project aims to enhance customs' ability to combat illicit trade and safeguard global pandemic response efforts by building a coordinated regulatory system, analyzing illegal trade trends, and conducting capacity building activities.

02/12/2026 Customs Knowledge
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WCO Enhances Postclearance Audits in Uzbekistan

WCO Enhances Postclearance Audits in Uzbekistan

Under the WCO's global trade facilitation project, the World Customs Organization (WCO) provided Post Clearance Audit (PCA) technical assistance to the State Customs Committee (SCC) of Uzbekistan. Through remote guidance, simulations, and process optimization recommendations, the assistance aimed to enhance Uzbekistan's PCA capabilities, strengthen trade compliance management, and promote economic development. This support deepened Uzbekistan's understanding of the PCA process, identified areas for improvement, and laid the groundwork for developing customs procedures. The project is expected to significantly improve trade efficiency and security.

02/12/2026 Customs Knowledge
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