WCO JICA Boost East Africa Customs Valuation for Trade Growth

WCO JICA Boost East Africa Customs Valuation for Trade Growth

The World Customs Organization (WCO) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) joint project held an advanced Customs Valuation trainer workshop in East Africa. The aim was to cultivate experienced trainers, develop practical training materials, and enhance customs valuation capabilities in East Africa, thereby promoting trade facilitation. Through case studies, expert guidance, and skills sharing, the workshop improved the professional level of customs officials and customs brokers, contributing to regional economic development. The initiative underscores the importance of skilled personnel in ensuring fair and efficient trade practices.

01/05/2026 Customs Knowledge
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East Africa Boosts Antismuggling Efforts with WCO JICA Support

East Africa Boosts Antismuggling Efforts with WCO JICA Support

The World Customs Organization (WCO) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) jointly held a workshop in Uganda to enhance customs intelligence analysis capabilities and strengthen anti-smuggling efforts in East Africa. Customs officials from various East African countries collaborated to develop post-seizure analysis training materials. Experts from the WCO and Japan Customs provided guidance to help East African customs improve their intelligence-driven risk management and combat smuggling crimes. The workshop aimed to build capacity and foster regional cooperation in tackling cross-border illicit trade.

01/05/2026 Customs Knowledge
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Tunisia Boosts Customs Audits with WCO Assistance

Tunisia Boosts Customs Audits with WCO Assistance

The World Customs Organization (WCO) held a national workshop on Post Clearance Audit (PCA) in Tunisia, aiming to enhance the Tunisian Customs' PCA capabilities. The workshop covered WCO guidelines interpretation, human resource management, case studies, and group discussions. It assisted Tunisian Customs in optimizing audit processes, addressing risks in complex trade environments, and promoting economic development. The training sought to improve efficiency and effectiveness in identifying and addressing compliance issues after goods have been released, contributing to a more secure and predictable trade environment.

01/05/2026 Customs Knowledge
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WCO Advocates Gender Equality in Global Trade

WCO Advocates Gender Equality in Global Trade

The World Customs Organization (WCO) hosted the 'Brussels Women in Trade Network' conference, aiming to enhance women's participation in global trade. The WCO emphasized promoting gender equality and plans to research related challenges. The EU Trade Commissioner shared experiences from TTIP negotiations, encouraging women to pay attention to trade policy developments. The conference fostered cooperation between the WCO and the EU, jointly promoting the facilitation and sustainable development of global trade. The event highlighted the importance of empowering women within the international trade landscape.

01/05/2026 Customs Knowledge
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New Zealand Tests WCO System to Boost Air Cargo Security

New Zealand Tests WCO System to Boost Air Cargo Security

The World Customs Organization (WCO) Cargo Targeting System (CTS) air cargo capability has been piloted in New Zealand, aiming to enhance global air cargo risk assessment and pre-inspection capabilities. The New Zealand Customs Service will comprehensively test and evaluate the system, providing customs agencies worldwide with smarter, more efficient risk management tools. This initiative contributes to building a safer and more convenient global trade environment by improving the ability to identify and mitigate potential threats in air cargo shipments before they reach their destination.

01/05/2026 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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UK Border Force WCO Boost Global Trade Security

UK Border Force WCO Boost Global Trade Security

The World Customs Organization (WCO), in collaboration with UK Border Force (UKBF), is upgrading the WCO Cargo Targeting System (WCO CTS) to enhance risk identification and response capabilities for customs administrations worldwide. This collaboration will leverage combined expertise to create more robust data processing and risk assessment functionalities. The upgraded system will support the WCO SAFE Framework, contributing to a more secure and efficient global trade system. The focus is on improving pre-arrival cargo inspection and bolstering overall trade security through advanced risk assessment techniques.

01/05/2026 Customs Knowledge
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Malaysia Boosts Border Security with Wcobacked Risk System

Malaysia Boosts Border Security with Wcobacked Risk System

The World Customs Organization (WCO) held a risk management workshop in Malaysia to support the Royal Malaysian Customs Department (RMCD) in strengthening its border security. The workshop focused on risk identification, targeting, postal/express consignment risk management, and international cooperation. By combining theory and practice, it aimed to enhance RMCD's risk management capabilities, laying the foundation for building a smart customs administration and safeguarding national security. The workshop provided valuable insights and practical tools for RMCD to improve its risk assessment and mitigation strategies.

01/05/2026 Customs Knowledge
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Philippines Boosts IP Protection in Customs Via WCO Workshop

Philippines Boosts IP Protection in Customs Via WCO Workshop

The World Customs Organization (WCO) held an online workshop for Philippine Customs to enhance its capacity to combat counterfeit and pirated goods. The workshop focused on customs challenges under the pandemic, WCO's intellectual property protection tools, and counterfeit goods identification. Rights holders were invited to provide training. The workshop significantly improved the intellectual property protection awareness and counterfeit goods identification skills of Philippine Customs officials, promoting cooperation between customs and rights holders. This initiative aims to strengthen IP enforcement and protect legitimate trade in the Philippines.

01/05/2026 Customs Knowledge
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Crossborder Ecommerce Faces New Customs Valuation Challenges

Crossborder Ecommerce Faces New Customs Valuation Challenges

The World Customs Organization released Advisory Opinion 4.19, clarifying how to handle royalties that include both patent rights for imported raw materials and trademark rights for the final product in customs valuation. This opinion aims to enhance valuation certainty, reduce trade friction, and assist businesses in tax planning. It offers valuable guidance for cross-border e-commerce and import-export enterprises, particularly regarding the treatment of royalties in determining customs value. The advisory opinion provides a framework for consistently applying valuation principles to complex licensing agreements.

01/05/2026 Customs Knowledge
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