Zimbabwe Zambia Enhance Trade with Customs Interconnectivity

Zimbabwe Zambia Enhance Trade with Customs Interconnectivity

Zimbabwe and Zambia are collaborating to advance customs interconnectivity, aiming to enhance cross-border trade efficiency, reduce costs, and promote regional economic growth through data exchange and process optimization. With the support of the World Customs Organization, both countries are actively building the infrastructure and legal framework for interconnectivity, creating a more convenient and efficient trading environment for businesses. This initiative promises to streamline customs procedures and foster closer economic ties between the two nations, ultimately contributing to increased trade volumes and sustainable development.

01/22/2026 Customs Knowledge
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Asiapacific Customs Chiefs Plan Trade Recovery Reforms

Asiapacific Customs Chiefs Plan Trade Recovery Reforms

The WCO Asia Pacific Heads of Customs Conference was held in Seoul, focusing on upgrading strategies, building smart customs, and strengthening international cooperation. Thailand was elected as the next Vice-Chair. South Korea will establish a training center to further support capacity building in the region. The conference highlighted the importance of regional collaboration to enhance trade facilitation and security within the Asia Pacific region and beyond, aiming to create a more efficient and interconnected global trade environment.

01/22/2026 Customs Knowledge
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World Customs Journal Highlights Global Trade Shifts

World Customs Journal Highlights Global Trade Shifts

The International Network of Customs Universities (INCU) released the eighth edition of the *World Customs Journal*, focusing on topics such as customs-business partnerships, performance measurement, customs and taxation, and the impact of climate change on international trade. This journal gathers research findings from global experts and scholars, providing valuable insights for businesses, policymakers, and researchers, and leading the future direction of customs transformation.

01/22/2026 Customs Knowledge
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CAR Rebuilds Customs with WCO Aid Postcrisis

CAR Rebuilds Customs with WCO Aid Postcrisis

With WCO support, the Central African Republic Customs has launched post-crisis reforms aimed at building institutional capacity, compliance enforcement, trade facilitation, and international cooperation through strategic planning and recovery programs. The reforms prioritize border security and utilize data analysis to quantify their impact. These efforts contribute to national economic development and security assurance.

01/27/2026 Customs Knowledge
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WCO Launches New Global Customs Performance Standards

WCO Launches New Global Customs Performance Standards

The World Customs Organization (WCO) has launched the second round of its Performance Measurement Mechanism (PMM), aiming to enhance strategic decision-making and overall effectiveness of member customs administrations through a standardized assessment framework. The PMM is not only an evaluation tool but also a key instrument supporting capacity building and promoting international cooperation. The WCO encourages all members to actively participate in building an efficient and transparent global trade environment.

01/27/2026 Customs Knowledge
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Global Customs Forum Sets Future Work Priorities

Global Customs Forum Sets Future Work Priorities

The World Customs Organization (WCO) successfully held the inaugural meeting of the Customs Working Organization Forum (CWOF), bringing together global experts to discuss innovative customs working methods in the “new normal.” The meeting approved the CWOF's terms of reference and outlined future work directions, including the collection of case studies and the development of best practice guidelines. The aim is to build a more resilient and efficient customs working system, adapting to the evolving challenges of international trade and ensuring effective border management in a rapidly changing world.

01/26/2026 Customs Knowledge
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Peru Boosts Customs Oversight with Global Partnerships

Peru Boosts Customs Oversight with Global Partnerships

Peru hosted a virtual forum to discuss risk management in customs valuation. Participating countries shared their experiences, highlighting best practices and challenges. The Peruvian Customs Service outlined plans to strengthen value verification processes and deepen public-private partnerships to improve compliance and combat fraud. The forum emphasized the importance of international cooperation in addressing valuation-related risks and ensuring fair trade practices. The discussions focused on leveraging technology and data analysis to enhance risk assessment and improve the efficiency of customs operations.

01/26/2026 Customs Knowledge
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World Customs Organization Expands Performance Measurement Initiative

World Customs Organization Expands Performance Measurement Initiative

The World Customs Organization (WCO) launched the second round of its Performance Measurement Mechanism (PMM), encouraging members to enhance customs effectiveness through data self-assessment. The meeting highlighted the PMM's crucial role in capacity building, fostering cooperation, and driving institutional modernization. All members were invited to actively participate in the initiative. This round aims to further improve customs operations globally by leveraging data-driven insights and promoting best practices among member administrations. The PMM serves as a valuable tool for identifying areas for improvement and measuring progress towards achieving trade facilitation goals.

01/26/2026 Customs Knowledge
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WCO Eswatini Launch Customs Capacity Pilot Program

WCO Eswatini Launch Customs Capacity Pilot Program

The World Customs Organization (WCO), in collaboration with the Eswatini Revenue Authority (ERA), launched a capacity building assessment pilot project. This initiative aims to enhance training quality and effectiveness, facilitate knowledge transfer, and strengthen customs capacity building through a systematic five-level evaluation model. The project's findings will be shared with WCO members, contributing to the security and facilitation of global trade. The assessment framework will provide valuable insights for optimizing training programs and ensuring sustainable capacity development within customs administrations.

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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