Italys Parcel Tax Backfires As Revenue Falls

Italys Parcel Tax Backfires As Revenue Falls

Italy's €2 tariff on small parcels from non-EU countries, intended to curb Chinese e-commerce platforms and boost revenue, resulted in a sharp decline in parcel volume, rerouted flights, tax revenue loss, and damage to the logistics industry. The policy aimed to protect domestic businesses but backfired. Members of Parliament have proposed postponing the tax and aligning with EU-wide tariffs, acknowledging the policy's detrimental effects. The situation highlights the potential for unintended consequences when implementing import tariffs in the context of global e-commerce.

02/06/2026 Logistics
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USPS Losses Widen Despite Ecommerce Revenue Surge

USPS Losses Widen Despite Ecommerce Revenue Surge

This paper analyzes the financial situation of the United States Postal Service (USPS) under the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite growth in package delivery, the decline in mail volume has led to significant financial losses. The analysis delves into the reasons for these losses, including the mail business decline, high operating costs, pricing restrictions, and the impact of the pandemic. Finally, it proposes directions for USPS transformation, including expanding package services, innovating new services, optimizing operations, seeking policy support, and undergoing digital transformation to ensure long-term sustainability.

01/15/2026 Logistics
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Zimbabwe Tax Authority Gains from WCO Leadership Program

Zimbabwe Tax Authority Gains from WCO Leadership Program

The WCO held a workshop in Zimbabwe to enhance the management capabilities of ZIMRA, promoting customs modernization and trade development. The workshop aimed to improve tax efficiency and international competitiveness. Key areas covered included leadership development strategies tailored for customs and tax administration. Participants explored best practices in streamlining customs procedures, leveraging technology for tax collection, and fostering a culture of compliance. The ultimate goal is to bolster Zimbabwe's economic growth through efficient and effective revenue collection and enhanced trade facilitation.

12/30/2025 Customs Knowledge
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Asiapacific Nations Unite on Ecommerce Rules During Pandemic

Asiapacific Nations Unite on Ecommerce Rules During Pandemic

The World Customs Organization (WCO) held an online workshop for Asia-Pacific members, focusing on the effective implementation of the E-Commerce Framework of Standards (E-Commerce FoS) to address challenges arising from the pandemic-accelerated growth of e-commerce. The meeting covered topics such as advance electronic data, data exchange, tax collection, cooperation & coordination, and technology applications. The aim was to promote trade facilitation, ensure effective customs control and revenue collection, and foster the healthy development of cross-border e-commerce.

01/19/2026 Customs Knowledge
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Sierra Leone Boosts Trade with WCO Customs Upgrade

Sierra Leone Boosts Trade with WCO Customs Upgrade

The World Customs Organization (WCO) assessed Sierra Leone Customs' valuation capabilities to support its WTO commitments and enhance trade facilitation and revenue management. This assessment aims to identify areas for improvement and provide targeted capacity building initiatives. By strengthening customs valuation procedures, Sierra Leone can ensure accurate revenue collection, streamline trade processes, and promote a more transparent and efficient trading environment. The WCO's support is crucial for Sierra Leone to effectively implement its WTO obligations and achieve sustainable economic growth through improved trade practices.

01/05/2026 Customs Knowledge
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Gambia Revenue Authority Boosts HR Strategy with WCO Aid

Gambia Revenue Authority Boosts HR Strategy with WCO Aid

With Sida's funding, the WCO, through the WACAM project, is assisting the Gambia Revenue Authority in enhancing its human resource management capabilities and optimizing recruitment processes. This initiative aims to strengthen the GRA's operational efficiency by improving its ability to attract, retain, and develop qualified personnel. The project focuses on modernizing HR practices and aligning them with international standards to support the GRA's mandate in revenue collection and border security. Ultimately, this contributes to Gambia's economic development by fostering a more effective and transparent customs administration.

01/26/2026 Customs Knowledge
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Madagascar Boosts Tax Efficiency with Talent System Upgrade

Madagascar Boosts Tax Efficiency with Talent System Upgrade

The Madagascar Revenue Authority (MRA) is modernizing its human resource management system through a competency-based approach in collaboration with the World Customs Organization (WCO). This project aims to enhance the professional skills of tax officials, optimize HR processes, and ultimately improve tax efficiency and promote economic development. The WCO will continue to provide capacity-building support to help the MRA achieve its modernization goals. The focus is on building a skilled and efficient workforce to improve revenue collection and contribute to Madagascar's economic growth.

02/12/2026 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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Gambia Revenue Authority Boosts HR Management with WACAM Support

Gambia Revenue Authority Boosts HR Management with WACAM Support

With support from the WACAM project funded by the Swedish government, the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA) pioneered the implementation of the WCO's competency-based Human Resource Management approach in West and Central Africa. A WCO expert team conducted a comprehensive review of GRA's key HR management tools, providing recommendations for improvement and an implementation plan. Modernizing HR management at GRA will enhance tax administration efficiency, optimize taxpayer services, and foster regional cooperation. This initiative marks a significant step towards improved governance and revenue collection in the region.

01/30/2026 Customs Knowledge
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WCO Releases New Rules for Crossborder Ecommerce Shipments

WCO Releases New Rules for Crossborder Ecommerce Shipments

The World Customs Organization (WCO) has released a report addressing the challenges of customs clearance for low-value cross-border e-commerce parcels. It proposes solutions in five areas: facilitation, risk management, data exchange, anti-counterfeiting regulation, and tax collection. The aim is to improve customs clearance efficiency, maintain market order, and promote the healthy development of cross-border e-commerce. The report provides guidance for customs administrations to streamline processes, enhance security, and ensure fair revenue collection in the rapidly growing e-commerce landscape.

01/26/2026 Customs Knowledge
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