Imagine a borderless commercial world where goods flow freely between nations like rushing rivers—unhindered, efficient, and seamless. This vision represents not just an idealized future but the very ambition driving the World Customs Organization (WCO), the global leader in customs affairs committed to trade facilitation and supply chain efficiency.
In July 2017, WCO marked a milestone in global trade facilitation by convening its inaugural Global Transit Conference. This gathering of international expertise focused on enhancing transit system efficiency and culminated in the landmark publication of the Transit Guidelines , ushering in a new era for global commerce.
WCO: Guardian of Global Trade
As the authoritative body in customs affairs, WCO plays a pivotal role in establishing international standards while providing technical assistance to help national customs administrations streamline procedures. The organization's mission to ensure secure, efficient, and transparent global trade finds concrete expression in the Transit Guidelines , which compile global best practices to help eliminate cross-border bottlenecks.
Breaking Barriers: Building Open Economies
The conference brought together customs officials, international organizations, development partners, and industry experts under the theme "Breaking Barriers for Seamless Trade." Participants emphasized that political will remains crucial for transit system reform, with Zambia's Finance Minister Felix C. Mutati highlighting the African Union's determination to establish a Continental Free Trade Area.
Regional economic communities like COMESA and ECOWAS stressed the need for robust legal frameworks to address transit challenges, while discussions revealed that information and communication technologies (ICT) offer transformative potential—from electronic customs seals to regional tracking systems like those implemented between Uganda, Kenya, and Rwanda.
Technology as Catalyst
The successful application of electronic customs seals in China-Europe container transport demonstrates technology's reliability, while the WCO Data Model promises enhanced information sharing. However, practical challenges persist, as noted by Togo's Customs Director regarding infrastructure limitations like power outages.
Special Considerations for Landlocked Nations
Landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) face unique obstacles, with Paraguay's Customs Director noting 30% higher trade costs due to geographical constraints. UN-OHRLLS data suggests LLDCs average 40% higher costs, making infrastructure investment in roads, railways, and multimodal hubs imperative alongside simplified border procedures.
Learning from Success
The conference examined successful transit systems including the EU's New Computerized Transit System (NCTS), the TIR Convention , and initiatives by the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) and Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC). Turkey's digital transit innovations and growing Eurasian rail freight—which reduces China-Europe transit time to two weeks—demonstrate promising developments, though the absence of global rail transport rules remains a challenge.
Collaborative Future
Developed through collaboration with WTO, UNECE, UNCTAD, and multilateral development banks, the Transit Guidelines will undergo continuous refinement. WCO Secretary General Kunio Mikuriya suggested compiling national and regional best practices into a dedicated publication, reflecting the organization's commitment to ongoing improvement.
The conference's outcomes signal renewed momentum for global trade facilitation through international cooperation, technological innovation, and special consideration for disadvantaged nations—laying foundations for more efficient, secure transit ecosystems that promise shared economic prosperity.