IFCBA representatives were in Brussels this week for meetings of the WCO's eCommerce Working Group. While everyone is waiting to see the outcomes of the WCO's work, it is important to note that some jurisdictions are making their own moves with regard to the management of eCommerce shipments.

The Council of the European Union, for example, has adopted new rules to help online businesses comply with their VAT obligations. The timeline for implementation runs through 2021.

Eleventh WTO Ministerial Conference

The Eleventh Ministerial Conference (MC11) took place from 10 to 13 December 2017 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It was chaired by Minister Susana Malcorra of Argentina. The Conference ended with a number of ministerial decisions, including on fisheries subsidies and duties on electronic transmissions, and a commitment to continue negotiations in all areas.

Regarding e-commerce, the Ministerial Conference agreed to:

The IFCBA Secretariat is pleased to announce that Mr. Ge Jizhong, IFCBA Managing Director and local host of the IFCBA 2016 World Conference, has been elected as President of the Shanghai Customs Brokers Association. At the October 2017 meeting which was attended by hundreds of business representatives, Mr. Ge was chosen by attendees to lead the organization.  During the sessions, delegates discussed the continued development and promotion of customs brokers as trade facilitators who are positioned to make significant contributions to the One Belt, One Road Initiative.

Some of our IFCBA contacts may have received emails from [email protected].  These emails were not sent from the IFCBA.  Therefore, please do not click on the link provided in that email or provide any additional information requested.

On November 9, 2017, World Customs Organization (WCO) Secretary General, Kunio Mikuriya announced the WCO’s annual theme for 2018.  The IFCBA looks forward to continuing our work with the WCO as it further explores its critical role in economic development.  Following is the official announcement from the WCO.

World Customs Organization dedicates 2018 to building a secure business environment for economic development

09 November 2017

IFCBA members and others may have received the following email which was not issued by the IFCBA.  Please do not open or respond to it.

From: International Federation of Customs Brokers Associations [mailto:[email protected]]

Registration is now open for the IFCBA 2017 Seminar Series and Meetings, 28-29 August in Bangkok, Thailand. Click here to view the program details.

The meeting of the WCO’s Private Sector Consultative Group was held on July 3-4 in Brussels, followed by a joint meeting with the WCO Policy Commission.  The IFCBA delegation was composed of Carol West, IFCBA Secretary;  Jaime King, IFCBA Past Chair and Mary Jo Muoio, IFCBA representative from the United States NCBFAA.