Customs Key to Asiapacific Trade Resilience During Pandemic

Customs Key to Asiapacific Trade Resilience During Pandemic

The Asian Development Bank and UNESCAP jointly held a webinar focusing on the critical role of customs in safeguarding trade and connectivity during the pandemic. The WCO Secretary General emphasized the need for customs to ensure supply chain transparency and shared WCO's response measures and recommendations for regional cooperation. These included coordinating border management, digitizing procedures, and building capacity. The meeting highlighted the importance of customs in facilitating trade and building resilient supply chains during global crises.

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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Cameroon Customs Adopts Digital Tools to Strengthen Supply Chains

Cameroon Customs Adopts Digital Tools to Strengthen Supply Chains

Cameroon Customs, with the support of the WCO and the Government of Japan, held a seminar to enhance disaster response capabilities and promote digital tools to optimize customs clearance processes. This initiative aims to build a more resilient customs system, providing a more stable and efficient trading environment for businesses and fostering economic development in Cameroon. The focus is on strengthening customs' ability to withstand disruptions and leverage technology for improved efficiency and security in international trade.

01/26/2026 Customs Knowledge
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Bosnia Boosts Ecommerce with Wcobacked Customs Reform

Bosnia Boosts Ecommerce with Wcobacked Customs Reform

The World Customs Organization (WCO) held a workshop in Bosnia and Herzegovina focusing on cross-border e-commerce. The aim was to enhance the awareness of Bosnian Customs regarding e-commerce and to optimize clearance procedures. The workshop highlighted WCO's Framework of Standards on Cross-Border E-Commerce and the Immediate Release Guidelines. These tools are designed to help Bosnia and Herzegovina seize the opportunities presented by cross-border e-commerce, address related challenges, and ultimately achieve economic development.

01/26/2026 Customs Knowledge
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WTO UN OCHA Boost Malis Customs Emergency Response

WTO UN OCHA Boost Malis Customs Emergency Response

The World Customs Organization (WCO) is collaborating with the United Nations Humanitarian Response Division (UNHRD) on the C-RED project in Mali, aiming to enhance the country's customs clearance capabilities for relief goods. Through needs assessments, strengthened coordination, and the drafting of standard operating procedures (SOPs), Mali is expected to establish a more efficient system for clearing emergency supplies. This initiative will better equip the nation to respond to sudden-onset disasters and improve the flow of humanitarian aid.

01/30/2026 Customs Knowledge
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Abu Dhabi Customs Streamlines Trade with Preruling System

Abu Dhabi Customs Streamlines Trade with Preruling System

Abu Dhabi Customs is actively implementing an Advance Ruling System to optimize commodity classification, valuation, and origin processes, aiming to comply with the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement. Through legal framework and infrastructure upgrades, with technical support from the WCO, Customs is committed to raising trader awareness and officer capabilities. The Advance Ruling System is expected to reduce trade costs, improve efficiency, enhance compliance, and attract more foreign investment, injecting new momentum into Abu Dhabi's trade development.

01/30/2026 Customs Knowledge
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Comptia Calls for Global Digital Trade System Overhaul

Comptia Calls for Global Digital Trade System Overhaul

CompTIA urges the World Customs Organization (WCO) to optimize the Harmonized System (HS) to adapt to the rapidly evolving business landscape. Recommendations include revisiting valuation criteria, shortening review cycles, increasing private sector involvement, and providing explanatory notes free of charge. These suggestions aim to facilitate the digital transformation of global trade by ensuring the HS accurately reflects modern goods and services. Updating the HS is crucial for efficient customs procedures and smooth international commerce in the digital age.

01/30/2026 HS Code Query
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Senegal Customs Adopts HR Modernization Under West Africa Project

Senegal Customs Adopts HR Modernization Under West Africa Project

Funded by the Swedish government, the World Customs Organization (WCO) supported the modernization of human resources management in Senegalese Customs through the West Africa Customs Administration Modernization Project. The project focused on building a competency-based human resources management system. Key tools such as job classifications, competency models, and job descriptions were developed to improve Senegalese Customs' management efficiency and international competitiveness. The initiative aims to strengthen the customs administration's capacity and contribute to regional economic development.

02/03/2026 Customs Knowledge
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Algeria Boosts Customs Tech with Dutch Lab Expertise

Algeria Boosts Customs Tech with Dutch Lab Expertise

Algerian customs experts visited the Netherlands to study its customs laboratory, aiming to learn from its best practices in operational models, infrastructure, and technology applications. This visit was a support activity under the EU-WCO HS-Africa Programme, designed to assist Algeria in building a modern customs laboratory and enhancing its capabilities in tariff classification, commodity analysis, and trade facilitation. The initiative seeks to strengthen Algeria's customs infrastructure and expertise, ultimately contributing to more efficient and effective trade processes.

02/03/2026 Customs Knowledge
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Zambia Boosts Trade Efficiency with Wcobacked AEO Program

Zambia Boosts Trade Efficiency with Wcobacked AEO Program

The World Customs Organization (WCO) supports the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) in establishing an internationally compliant Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) program. This initiative aims to enhance trade facilitation, strengthen supply chain security, and ultimately achieve mutual recognition agreements with neighboring countries, promoting regional trade development. The support involves capacity building and study visits. This collaboration is part of the UK's HMRC's 'Accelerating Trade Facilitation' program, designed to assist Zambia in meeting international standards and improving its overall trade environment.

02/03/2026 Customs Knowledge
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