WCO Enhances African Customs Training Amid Belgian Graduation Milestone

WCO Enhances African Customs Training Amid Belgian Graduation Milestone

The Secretary General of the World Customs Organization (WCO) attended the graduation ceremony of French-speaking African customs officials at the Belgian Customs Academy, emphasizing the crucial role of customs in revenue collection, trade facilitation, and societal protection. This initiative supports African economic development and the AfCFTA by enhancing customs management, promoting regional integration, and fostering international cooperation. The WCO plays a key role by providing technical assistance and promoting the application of international standards, ultimately contributing to a more efficient and secure trade environment in Africa.

01/05/2026 Customs Knowledge
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WCO JICA Boost Customs Valuation Training in Southern Africa

WCO JICA Boost Customs Valuation Training in Southern Africa

The World Customs Organization (WCO) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) joint project is progressing in Southern Africa. The 3rd Working Group activity of the Customs Valuation (CV) Master Trainer Programme (MTP) aimed to enhance the customs valuation capabilities of Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Zambia. The project focuses on developing a regional pool of trainers and creating training materials. This initiative seeks to promote fairness and efficiency in international trade by strengthening customs valuation expertise within the region.

01/05/2026 Customs Knowledge
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Navigating Customs and Quality Standards for Dissolving Wood Pulp

Navigating Customs and Quality Standards for Dissolving Wood Pulp

This article provides an in-depth interpretation of the definition and quality standards for "dissolving grades of chemical wood pulp" under HS Code 4702. It elaborates on the requirements for key indicators such as solubility and ash content. The aim is to assist businesses in accurately identifying dissolving wood pulp, avoiding tariff risks in international trade, and ensuring the quality of downstream products. It focuses on the specific criteria outlined within the HS Code to facilitate compliance and informed decision-making.

12/30/2025 HS Code Query
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WCO Issues Rail Customs Guidelines to Boost Global Trade

WCO Issues Rail Customs Guidelines to Boost Global Trade

The World Customs Organization (WCO)'s 'Guidelines on Rail Transit' aims to simplify and standardize customs procedures for rail transport, encouraging technology application and international cooperation. This enhances cross-border trade efficiency, reduces costs, and promotes global economic prosperity. The guidelines, structured around four key objectives and supporting capacity building projects, provide a roadmap for customs facilitation in global rail transport. It offers practical guidance and best practices to streamline processes and improve security, contributing to a more efficient and reliable international trade network.

12/30/2025 Customs Knowledge
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Revised Kyoto Convention Aims to Streamline Global Trade Customs

Revised Kyoto Convention Aims to Streamline Global Trade Customs

The World Customs Organization (WCO) is promoting a comprehensive revision of the Revised Kyoto Convention (RKC) to simplify and harmonize customs procedures across countries. The 7th RKC Review Working Group meeting established a 'four-step framework' for the revision process and discussed revisions to rules of origin. The RKC revision presents both opportunities and challenges for import and export companies. Businesses should closely monitor progress, actively participate, and adapt to the new trade environment. This adaptation is crucial for maintaining competitiveness in the global market.

12/30/2025 Customs Knowledge
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WCO Launches Elearning on Python ML for Customs Modernization

WCO Launches Elearning on Python ML for Customs Modernization

The World Customs Organization (WCO) has launched a Data Quality E-Learning course to enhance data analysis skills of customs officials, ensuring data quality at the source and unlocking its value. The course covers data quality assessment, cleaning techniques, Python programming, and machine learning algorithm applications. It supports the intelligent transformation of customs departments and improves the accuracy of risk goods identification and tax revenue forecasting. The course aims to equip customs officials with the necessary skills to leverage data effectively for improved decision-making and operational efficiency.

12/30/2025 Customs Knowledge
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WCO Group Targets Doubled Customs Efficiency with Inspection Tech

WCO Group Targets Doubled Customs Efficiency with Inspection Tech

The 8th meeting of the World Customs Organization's Technical Expert Group on Non-Intrusive Inspection (TEG-NII) focused on the development of the Unified File Format (UFF) and NII-related matters, aiming to enhance customs supervision efficiency. The meeting emphasized the application of technologies such as big data and artificial intelligence, and discussed topics including radiation detection, data analysis, and centralized image analysis. The goal is to promote the modernization of global customs supervision and facilitate trade security and facilitation.

12/30/2025 Customs Knowledge
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African Customs Officials Train at WCO As Trade Grows

African Customs Officials Train at WCO As Trade Grows

The World Customs Organization (WCO) hosted a study visit for customs experts from Portuguese-speaking African countries, aiming to enhance their application of the Harmonized System (HS) and promote regional trade development. The activities included participation in the HS Committee (HSC) meeting, meetings with representatives of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), and planned capacity-building workshops to strengthen tariff classification and customs cooperation. The visit focused on improving skills and fostering collaboration to facilitate trade and ensure accurate classification practices within the region.

12/30/2025 Customs Knowledge
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West and Central Africa Boost Security with Customs Network

West and Central Africa Boost Security with Customs Network

The West and Central Africa Customs Organization (WCO) enhanced the intelligence capabilities and Customs Enforcement Network (CEN) application skills of customs officers in the region through a webinar. This initiative aims to strengthen intelligence sharing and jointly combat fraud and transnational organized crime, thereby maintaining regional security and stability. The webinar focused on improving the officers' abilities to collect, analyze, and disseminate customs intelligence, ultimately contributing to a more effective and coordinated approach to law enforcement within the region.

12/30/2025 Customs Knowledge
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WCO Fellowship Program Boosts Customs Modernization in Developing Nations

WCO Fellowship Program Boosts Customs Modernization in Developing Nations

Participants of the 91st World Customs Organization (WCO) training program have completed the second phase of their training. This program aims to enhance the capabilities of customs officials from developing countries and promote the modernization of their respective national customs administrations. The participants attended leadership workshops at the WCO headquarters and had exchanges with the Secretary-General. They are currently undertaking study visits in China, Japan, or Korea.

12/30/2025 Customs Knowledge
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