Wcos Clean Seas Initiative Tackles Asiapacific Plastic Waste

Wcos Clean Seas Initiative Tackles Asiapacific Plastic Waste

The World Customs Organization (WCO), through its Asia Pacific Border Management Waste Project, is assisting Indonesian and Philippine Customs in enhancing their control over plastic waste via virtual diagnostic missions. The project aims to strengthen Customs' ability to handle legal plastic waste imports, reduce the risk of illegal shipments, and raise awareness of the Basel Convention amendments. The WCO will provide customized implementation plans and host regional workshops to foster collaboration and address the challenges of plastic waste management.

01/26/2026 Customs Knowledge
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WCO Advocates Gender Equality to Boost Global Trade

WCO Advocates Gender Equality to Boost Global Trade

The World Customs Organization virtual working group meeting focused on gender equality and diversity within trade facilitation, emphasizing collaboration to foster an inclusive customs environment. Discussions explored the link between gender, inclusion, and trade, highlighting the need to raise awareness of the gender impact of trade policies. Customs administrations shared measures to promote gender equality and inclusion, aiming to ensure that more women and marginalized groups benefit from trade. The meeting underscored the importance of creating a level playing field and addressing systemic barriers to participation in international trade.

01/26/2026 Customs Knowledge
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Global Customs Intensify Crackdown on Counterfeit Goods

Global Customs Intensify Crackdown on Counterfeit Goods

The World Customs Organization (WCO) held a seminar in Botswana focusing on intellectual property protection, addressing emerging trends in infringement, targeting techniques, data sharing, environmentally sound destruction, and multi-agency cooperation. Through practical exercises, experience sharing, and expert advice, the seminar aimed to enhance customs enforcement capabilities, combat counterfeit and pirated goods, strengthen intellectual property protection, and build a safe and orderly market environment. This initiative seeks to fortify defenses against IP violations and promote legitimate trade.

01/26/2026 Customs Knowledge
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WCO Belgian Customs Academy Expand African Customs Training Partnership

WCO Belgian Customs Academy Expand African Customs Training Partnership

Customs officials from French-speaking African countries visited the WCO headquarters during their training at the Belgian Customs Academy. They participated in presentations on intellectual property, and health & safety projects. The WCO's long-standing collaboration with the Belgian Customs Academy significantly contributes to customs capacity building in Africa through tailored training programs. This partnership supports economic prosperity and social development across the African continent.

01/26/2026 Customs Knowledge
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Zambia Tax Authority Adopts WCO Tool to Boost Efficiency

Zambia Tax Authority Adopts WCO Tool to Boost Efficiency

With support from the Sida-WCO Trade Facilitation Project, WCO experts assisted the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) in leveraging the Performance Measurement Mechanism (PMM) to enhance strategic decision-making and governance. By establishing a data-driven performance evaluation system, ZRA aims to optimize operational efficiency and achieve customs modernization, ultimately contributing more significantly to Zambia's economic development. The PMM helps ZRA to monitor progress, identify areas for improvement, and ensure that resources are allocated effectively, leading to better trade facilitation and increased revenue collection.

01/26/2026 Customs Knowledge
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Latin America Strengthens Tax Customs Systems Through Global Partnerships

Latin America Strengthens Tax Customs Systems Through Global Partnerships

The "Senior Tax and Customs Administration Program," jointly organized by institutions like the IMF and WCO, aims to enhance the capabilities of mid-to-senior level managers in tax and customs administrations across Central and South America. This program, delivered through a blended online and offline approach, provides training in areas such as strategic planning, risk management, and change management. It assists customs and tax departments in addressing global trade and tax challenges, ultimately contributing to economic development in the region.

01/26/2026 Customs Knowledge
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Ukraine Customs Modernization Aims to Enhance Trade Efficiency

Ukraine Customs Modernization Aims to Enhance Trade Efficiency

With the assistance of the World Customs Organization, the State Customs Service of Ukraine has completed a draft strategic planning framework. This framework aims to strengthen customs border management, modernize customs operations, and enhance Ukraine's institutional trade platform. The plan encompasses key elements such as stakeholder analysis, SWOT analysis, and a reimagined vision and mission. It emphasizes the importance of risk management, specific measures, timelines, and performance indicators. This strategic plan lays the foundation for the modernization and transformation of Ukrainian customs.

01/26/2026 Customs Knowledge
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Sierra Leone Enhances Tax Collection with HR Modernization

Sierra Leone Enhances Tax Collection with HR Modernization

The National Revenue Authority (NRA) of Sierra Leone, in collaboration with the World Customs Organization (WCO), has launched a modernization project of its human resources system. This initiative aims to build a competency-based HRM system to improve recruitment, performance management, training, compensation, and employee relations. The goal is to inject talent and drive into the nation's economic development by strengthening the NRA's human capital. This comprehensive reform seeks to ensure a skilled and motivated workforce capable of effectively managing the country's revenue collection and contributing to sustainable economic growth.

01/26/2026 Customs Knowledge
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Niger Customs Modernizes Trade with WCO Support

Niger Customs Modernizes Trade with WCO Support

The World Customs Organization (WCO) is assisting Niger Customs in enhancing its goods classification capabilities to meet international standards and facilitate trade. Through diagnostic assessments, recommended measures, and action plans, the initiative aims to improve Niger's trade environment, increase customs clearance efficiency, and reduce trade costs, ultimately creating new opportunities for economic development. This support focuses on aligning Niger's practices with global norms to promote smoother and more predictable trade flows.

01/26/2026 Customs Knowledge
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Tonga Boosts Customs Audits with WCO Support

Tonga Boosts Customs Audits with WCO Support

The World Customs Organization (WCO) conducted a Post Clearance Audit (PCA) diagnostic mission in Tonga, aiming to enhance customs modernization and facilitate trade. The WCO expert team engaged with various departments within Tonga Customs and external stakeholders to assess the existing system, provide recommendations for improvement, and share international best practices. This initiative is expected to help Tonga establish an efficient, transparent, and compliant PCA system, ultimately promoting trade facilitation and economic development.

01/26/2026 Customs Knowledge
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