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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Benin Customs Modernizes HR Leads Reform in West Africa

Benin Customs Modernizes HR Leads Reform in West Africa

With the support of the World Customs Organization, the Benin Customs Administration launched a Human Resource Modernization project aimed at building a competency-based HRM system. Through capacity building, job catalog refinement, and regional cooperation, Benin Customs has set a precedent for improving efficiency and promoting regional customs modernization. The project emphasizes continuous improvement and comprehensive implementation to create a highly efficient and professional workforce. This initiative showcases Benin's commitment to modernizing its customs operations and fostering a skilled workforce capable of meeting the evolving demands of international trade.

01/26/2026 Customs Knowledge
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WCO Launches Digital Tools to Strengthen Global Customs Operations

WCO Launches Digital Tools to Strengthen Global Customs Operations

This paper focuses on the core online resources offered by the World Customs Organization (WCO) for capacity builders, including the WCO Trade Tools, WCO Bookshop, Customs Enforcement Network (CEN), and the WCO Online Learning platform. The aim is to help readers quickly understand and effectively utilize these tools to enhance their professional capabilities and promote compliance and efficiency in international trade. It provides a concise overview of these resources for improved customs capacity and trade facilitation.

01/26/2026 Customs Knowledge
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WTO Committee Clarifies Customs Valuation Rules for Global Trade

WTO Committee Clarifies Customs Valuation Rules for Global Trade

This article provides an in-depth analysis of key decisions made by the WTO Committee on Customs Valuation over the years. It covers critical issues such as royalties, interpretation of terms, treatment of interest, valuation of software carriers, challenges to declared value, and minimum prices. The aim is to offer an authoritative reference for practitioners, promoting fairness and efficiency in international trade. It delves into the nuances of these resolutions, offering practical insights for navigating complex valuation scenarios and ensuring trade compliance.

01/26/2026 Customs Knowledge
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Albania Enhances Customs Lab with GCMS to Boost Revenue

Albania Enhances Customs Lab with GCMS to Boost Revenue

The World Customs Organization (WCO) supports the upgrade of the Albanian Customs Laboratory by introducing Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) technology. This enables precise analysis of solvents and chemicals, improving tariff collection efficiency. Through international cooperation and technological advancements, Albanian Customs is committed to combating smuggling and maintaining a fair trade order, building a robust national border defense.

01/26/2026 Customs Knowledge
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WCO Updates Customs Lab Handbook to Boost Regional Standards

WCO Updates Customs Lab Handbook to Boost Regional Standards

The World Customs Organization (WCO) has updated its Customs Laboratory Guide, adding Annex V, which provides information on Regional Customs Laboratories (RCLs) and the procedures and requirements for establishing them. This initiative aims to strengthen regional capacity building, assisting members in upgrading their laboratories and becoming regional benchmarks. The guide, available in English and French on the WCO Members' website, serves as a crucial resource for customs laboratory advancement. It promotes cooperation and knowledge sharing within regions to enhance analytical capabilities and facilitate trade.

01/26/2026 Customs Knowledge
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Albania Enhances Polymer Testing with Wcobacked Customs Lab Upgrade

Albania Enhances Polymer Testing with Wcobacked Customs Lab Upgrade

The World Customs Organization (WCO) assisted the Albanian Customs Laboratory in enhancing its polymer analysis capabilities. A workshop focused on key techniques such as Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). In-depth analysis of the Combined Nomenclature (CN) coding of the European Union was also covered. The initiative aims to improve the ability of customs officers to classify and analyze polymers and elastomers, ultimately promoting trade facilitation. This will lead to more accurate tariff classification and better enforcement of customs regulations.

01/26/2026 Customs Knowledge
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Ethiopian Customs Officials Train in HS at WCO HQ

Ethiopian Customs Officials Train in HS at WCO HQ

Ethiopian customs experts visited the WCO headquarters to study and enhance their HS Code application skills. By participating in HS Committee meetings, exchanging ideas with international experts, and collaborating with the HS-Africa project, Ethiopian Customs achieved significant results in capacity building, international cooperation, and future development planning. This visit laid a solid foundation for better integration into the global trade system.

01/26/2026 Customs Knowledge
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WCO Boosts Customs Modernization in MENA Via Data Analytics

WCO Boosts Customs Modernization in MENA Via Data Analytics

The World Customs Organization (WCO), in partnership with the CCF Korea, held a virtual workshop for senior officials from the Middle East and North Africa region, focusing on data analysis capacity building. The workshop aimed to enhance the region's customs data analysis capabilities to support customs modernization. It covered topics such as introducing a data analysis framework, sharing experiences, presenting capacity building initiatives, and exploring cooperation prospects for the BACUDA project.

01/26/2026 Customs Knowledge
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WCO Guide Aids Customs Agencies in Adopting Virtual Training

WCO Guide Aids Customs Agencies in Adopting Virtual Training

The World Customs Organization (WCO) has released the 'Guide to Successful Transition to Live Virtual Training,' offering strategies and techniques to help customs administrations effectively transition to virtual training modalities. Endorsed by reputable institutions and available in multiple languages, the guide covers needs analysis, instructor preparation, learner management, engagement strategies, and evaluation mechanisms. It aims to enhance training effectiveness and address challenges posed by crises. This guide provides practical advice for designing and delivering engaging and impactful virtual training programs for customs officials.

01/26/2026 Customs Knowledge
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