The customs community has successfully responded to the security needs of international maritime traffic without losing sight of its commitment to facilitate the movement of legitimate goods. It did this by developing a Framework of Standards to Secure and Facilitate Global Trade, with core elements including the Authorized Economic Operator concept and mutual recognition of this status.
However, recent attempts to compromise the supply chain now impel the customs community to turn its attention to securing other modes of transport, such as air cargo, in collaboration with its international partners.
Our efforts to promote coordinated border management, the use of risk management and the customs-business partnership will have to be further enhanced to meet our goal of safe trade.
It is critical that these programs be speedily implemented at the national level to protect the integrity of borders and cross-border trade. These will be complemented by vigorous programs at the international and regional levels between intergovernmental organizations and other key stakeholders to ensure a coordinated approach and concerted actions to secure trade even more while enabling legitimate trade to flow unhindered.
The enhancement of knowledge in customs will be highlighted throughout the year ahead, too, given that in our moving world, it is a critical resource, a catalyst for customs excellence, and a key platform on which to base strategic decision-making and leadership to manage change to meet the realities of the global economy. Already envisioned in the “Customs in the 21st Century” strategic policy, which positions a professional, knowledge-based service culture as a building block for modern customs, the customs community recognizes that continuous strengthening of know-how and competencies underpinned by reliable research and quality information, including the sharing of information, is fundamental to maintaining efficiency and performance.