The IFCBA World Conference is the premier gathering of Customs professionals. Held only every two years, the IFCBA Conference is a “must-attend” event for those who deal with Customs and border issues on a daily basis and those who  develop business plans requiring timely and accurate knowledge of global Customs trends. From May 8-12, the Divani Caravel Hotel in Athens, Greece will be the site of this year’s IFCBA Conference, “The Future of Customs Compliance: Business Models and Strategies”.

The following is excerpted from a 1 March 2012 news item from the World Trade Organization.

The following is excerpted from a 29 February 2012 news item from the World Trade Organization.

The following is a 2 March 2012 report by the World Customs Organization.

The Head of the Regional Office for Capacity Building for the WCO Americas and Caribbean Region, Andrea Paz, met with the Secretary General and Deputy Secretary of the WCO in the margins of the meeting of the Capacity Building Committee to discuss capacity building activities undertaken by the region.

Director-General Pascal Lamy, in opening the Fifth Workshop for Heads of Investigating Authorities at the WTO on 27 February 2012, said that unlike in previous global economic downturns, “there had been a significant decline in initiations of new (anti-dumping) investigations, from 213 in 2008 down to 153 in 2011”.

This speech is available in its entirety on the World Trade Organization website at:

The following is excerpted from a 28 February 2012 news release by the International Chamber of Commerce.

The following is excerpted from a 24 February 2012 news release by the World Trade Organization.

Members, on 24 February 2012, reviewed the latest reforms undertaken by Azerbaijan to advance its accession to the WTO and to bring its trade regime in line with WTO rules.

The following is excerpted from a 23 February 2012 report by the World Customs Organization.

The following is excerpted from a 22 February 2012 news release by the World Trade Organization.

From May 8 to12, the world's customs brokers will gather in Athens, Greece (see www.ifcba2012.gr) for the biannual conference of the IFCBA. This year's conference theme, "The Future of Customs Compliance: Business Models and Strategies" offers a variety of operational and strategic panel presentations to support customs service providers as they continually develop and enhance their service offerings to clients.