WTO paper explores role of trade policy in the rapid roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines

Source: WTO

The WTO Secretariat has published a new information note on trade-related issues for COVID-19 vaccine production, manufacturing and deployment. The note, entitled “Developing and delivering COVID-19 vaccines around the world,” explores how trade policy can play its part in ensuring the rapid roll-out of vaccines against COVID-19.

For full details, please click here.

Greek National Elected Tariff Director at World Customs Organization

Source: The National Herald

Konstantinos Kaiopoulos is the first Greek to be elected director of Tariff & Trade Affairs at the World Customs Organization (WCO), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Monday.

He was elected during the 137th session of the WCO Council, which took place online on December 10-12.

Kaiopoulos, who has served as advisor for customs matters to the secretary general for Public Revenue in Greece, will assume office on 1 January 2021.

Jamaica Customs using technology to serve clients during COVID-19

Source: Jamaica Information Service

The Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA) is employing the use of technology to effectively carry out its mandate, which is focused on trade facilitation, revenue collection and border protection, during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Chief Executive Officer/Commissioner of the JCA, Velma Ricketts Walker, tells JIS News that several business processes have been fast-tracked to enable the entity to safely and efficiently serve its various stakeholders.

Africa's Customs chiefs commit to implementing new continental COVID-19 trade facilitation guidelines

Source: MarketScreener

Addis Ababa, 27 November 2020 (ECA) - Africa's customs experts have given their support to the adoption of continental guidelines to facilitate free and timely flow of cross-border trade amid the COVID-19 pandemic ahead of the start of trading under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) on 1 January 2021.

They made the pledge at a virtual meeting of Directors General of Customs on the continent organized by the African Union Commission (AUC) today, saying that the solutions must be maintained and upgraded following the crisis.

WTO launches new edition of Handbook on the TRIPS Agreement

Source: WTO

The WTO launched today (27 November) the second edition of “A Handbook on the WTO TRIPS Agreement”, which describes the historical and legal background to the Agreement on Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), its role in the organization and its institutional framework. The publication coincides with the 25th anniversary of the entry into force of the Agreement.

For full details, please click here.

ICC presents electronic ATA Carnet at annual WCO's ATA/Istanbul Administrative Committee meeting

Source: ICC

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) provided an update on the electronic ATA Carnet (eATA) pilot project as part of the World Customs Organization’s annual ATA/Istanbul Administrative council meeting.

The virtual meeting – which gathered customs experts from around the world – discussed ICC’s eATA Carnet pilot project, the impact of COVID-19 on ATA Carnet operations, as well as interpretation issues related to ATA Carnet claims.

Subscribe to