Source: Inquirer Net
When one thinks about the Bureau of the Customs (BOC), the next thought is almost always rampant graft and corruption. And for various reasons, many of them entirely justified.
But the current leadership led by Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero is intent on removing that stigma stubbornly attached to the government agency that will celebrate its 119th anniversary tomorrow.
Source: WCO
On 28 January 2021, the WCO, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) of the Republic of The Philippines and the World Bank Group, held a follow-up strategic executive-level meeting to discuss the ongoing capacity building collaboration under the Trade Facilitation in Middle Income Countries (TFMICs) Programme. The meeting was chaired by BOC Commissioner, Mr. Rey Leonardo B. Guerrero.
IFCBA is pleased to share that IFCBA Director, Clive Coke, President of the Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Association of Jamaica (CBFFAJ) was interviewed for an article about the new Customs Act in The Gleaner.
Source: WCO
The WCO releases a new publication “Customs fostering sustainability for People, Prosperity and the Planet”, which is designed as a look back on the WCO theme for 2020.
This publication is aimed at raising awareness of the related WCO initiatives and programmes and of the relevant WCO tools for building Members’ capacity to achieve long-term economic, social and environmental goals at the national, regional and global levels.
Source: WCO
In this new stage of the COVID-19 pandemic, in which vaccines are ready for distribution, the WCO Council has tasked the Secretariat to work with relevant international organizations to develop guidance materials to facilitate the cross-border movement of situationally critical medicines and vaccines, including highlighting existing HS classification for critical medicines, vaccines and associated medical supplies necessary for their manufacture, distribution and use.
Source: World Economic Forum
Source: Independent
EU customers are cancelling orders from the UK because of a mass of red tape, UK manufacturers have said, as anger builds over a lack of government Brexit support and antiquated customs systems.
Source: BBC News
Some EU specialist online retailers have said they will no longer deliver to the UK because of tax changes which came into force on 1 January.
Bicycle part firm Dutch Bike Bits said from now on, it would ship to every country in the world except the UK.
"We are forced by British policy to stop dealing with British customers," it said on its website.
Another firm, Belgium-based Beer On Web, said it was now shunning the UK "due to the new Brexit measures".
Source: World Economic Forum
Source: WTO
The WTO Secretariat has published an update of the information note on trade in medical goods in the context of tackling COVID-19 which was first issued on 3 April. The update looks at developments that took place in the first half of 2020.
The new paper presents preliminary trade statistics from 97 economies and compares data from January to June 2020 to the same period in 2019. The update includes a special case study on face masks, a heavily traded product which has become the most visible symbol of the fight against the pandemic.
