Togo WCO Boost Women Traders Via Customs Reform

Togo WCO Boost Women Traders Via Customs Reform

The World Customs Organization (WCO) collaborated with the Togolese Revenue Office (OTR) to focus on trade facilitation through a gender equality lens. Through capacity building, stakeholder engagement, and policy recommendations, the initiative aims to empower Togolese Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), particularly women traders. The goal is to build a more equitable, secure, and efficient trading environment, fostering economic growth and social development in Togo. This partnership highlights the importance of inclusive trade practices and the role of customs in promoting gender equality.

02/03/2026 Customs Knowledge
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WCO Launches Gender Equality Program for Frenchspeaking Regions

WCO Launches Gender Equality Program for Frenchspeaking Regions

The World Customs Organization (WCO) held a French-speaking “Training of Trainers” workshop to enhance gender equality capacity among its members, aiming to establish a pool of recognized experts in the field. The workshop focused on WCO gender equality tools, such as the GEOAT, and blended learning packages, emphasizing the importance of diagnostics, frameworks, and monitoring & evaluation. The WCO looks forward to collaborating with the newly trained experts to promote gender equality within customs systems globally.

02/03/2026 Customs Knowledge
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Bahrain Customs Boosts Clearance Efficiency with WCO Support

Bahrain Customs Boosts Clearance Efficiency with WCO Support

Bahrain Customs is collaborating with the WCO to enhance clearance efficiency, reduce trade costs, and promote trade facilitation by establishing a robust post-clearance audit mechanism and building a pre-clearance system. A WCO expert team held a workshop in Bahrain, providing professional training to Bahrain Customs officials to help them achieve their trade facilitation goals. This collaboration aims to streamline customs processes and contribute to a more efficient and competitive trading environment for Bahrain.

02/03/2026 Customs Knowledge
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WCO and WTO Boost Trade Facilitation Leadership Globally

WCO and WTO Boost Trade Facilitation Leadership Globally

The World Customs Organization (WCO) collaborates closely with the World Trade Organization (WTO) to empower chairs of national trade facilitation committees through initiatives like advanced courses. This partnership aims to enhance their understanding and implementation capabilities regarding the WTO's Trade Facilitation Agreement. The collaboration focuses on simplifying customs procedures, improving border management efficiency, and promoting transparency and sustainable development in global trade. Ultimately, this joint effort contributes to global economic growth by fostering a more streamlined and efficient international trading system.

02/03/2026 Customs Knowledge
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WCO Releases Ehandbook to Streamline Global Customs Clearance

WCO Releases Ehandbook to Streamline Global Customs Clearance

The WCO Data Model e-Handbook is an authoritative guide published by the World Customs Organization, designed to provide a unified data standard for customs, cross-border regulatory agencies, e-commerce architects, and businesses. It aims to break down information barriers, improve customs clearance efficiency, reduce operating costs, and facilitate global trade. The handbook includes the latest WCO Data Model version, data requirements, message implementation guidelines, and implementation documentation, making it a crucial tool for achieving cross-border trade data interoperability.

02/05/2026 Customs Knowledge
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WCO Aids African Customs in Enforcing Environmental Agreements

WCO Aids African Customs in Enforcing Environmental Agreements

WCO, in collaboration with the United Nations, is working to enhance the capacity of Kenyan and Tanzanian customs administrations in enforcing environmental agreements. This initiative aims to address climate change and promote green trade by strengthening customs' role in monitoring and controlling the movement of environmentally sensitive goods. The project focuses on providing training, equipment, and technical assistance to customs officers, enabling them to effectively implement relevant regulations and contribute to sustainable development goals. Ultimately, this partnership seeks to foster a more environmentally responsible and economically viable trade environment.

02/05/2026 Customs Knowledge
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WCO Unveils Plan to Modernize Global Trade Systems

WCO Unveils Plan to Modernize Global Trade Systems

The World Customs Organization (WCO) Permanent Technical Committee (PTC) meeting approved several instruments for submission to the Policy Commission (PC) and Council. The meeting focused on topics such as data strategy, trade facilitation, and e-commerce, aiming to improve customs efficiency and promote international trade development. Representatives from the United Kingdom and Indonesia were elected as the new chair and vice-chair, respectively. The approved instruments are expected to further streamline customs procedures and enhance global trade cooperation within the WCO framework.

02/05/2026 Customs Knowledge
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WCO Promotes Green Customs for Sustainable Textile Trade

WCO Promotes Green Customs for Sustainable Textile Trade

A WCO seminar explored leveraging the Harmonized System (HS) to identify environmentally friendly textiles at borders, promoting textile sustainability. The meeting focused on value chain transparency, industry practices, technological innovation, and standardization. It aimed to provide insights for building a greener HS system and supporting the global textile industry's transformation. Discussions centered on how HS codes can be better utilized to classify and track sustainable textiles, fostering a more environmentally responsible and transparent global textile trade.

02/05/2026 HS Code Query
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Zimbabwe Fasttracks Trade Single Window with WCO Backing

Zimbabwe Fasttracks Trade Single Window with WCO Backing

The World Customs Organization (WCO) supports Zimbabwe's Electronic Single Window (ZeSW) project by conducting workshops to enhance interaction with cooperating government agencies and improve trade facilitation. The workshops covered key topics such as the single window model and data harmonization, and shared Nigeria's successful experiences. Zimbabwe is committed to following the workshop recommendations to promote the construction of ZeSW and facilitate economic development. The focus is on streamlining processes and data exchange for efficient trade.

02/05/2026 Customs Knowledge
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Saudi Customs Adopts WCO System to Boost Efficiency

Saudi Customs Adopts WCO System to Boost Efficiency

The World Customs Organization (WCO) is assisting the Saudi Arabian ZATCA (Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority) in developing an intelligent evaluation system to improve customs performance and facilitate trade. By implementing the WCO Performance Measurement Mechanism (PMM), Saudi Customs aims to achieve more efficient and transparent operations, contributing to the Saudi Vision 2030. This collaboration marks a significant step in the global customs modernization process.

02/05/2026 Customs Knowledge
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