Imagine a world where global trade flows as smoothly as vehicles on a highway, enabling businesses to deliver products worldwide with lower costs and greater efficiency. This vision drives the work of the World Customs Organization (WCO), which convened its 42nd Private Sector Consultative Group (PSCG) meeting in Kampala, Uganda, in March 2018.
Chaired by John Mein of PROCOMEX and hosted by Dickson Kateshumbwa, Commissioner of Customs at the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), the gathering brought together trade experts to optimize processes and accelerate global commerce. Key agenda items included reviewing outcomes from February's SAFE working group meeting, implementing the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), and following up on WCO's inaugural e-commerce conference held earlier in China.
SAFE Framework Upgrade: Enhancing Global Trade Security
The meeting recognized significant progress by the SAFE revision group toward finalizing the 2018 SAFE Framework standards. This cornerstone WCO instrument strengthens supply chain security and efficiency through four pillars:
- Customs-to-Customs cooperation: Enhancing information sharing and joint operations against cross-border crimes
- Customs-to-Business partnership: Offering trade facilitation benefits to Authorized Economic Operators (AEOs)
- Interagency coordination: Implementing "single window" systems with border management and regulatory agencies
- International collaboration: Partnering with WTO, INTERPOL and other global organizations
The revised framework addresses emerging challenges including e-commerce growth and new security threats through advanced technologies, improved risk management, and stronger international cooperation.
Trade Facilitation Agreement Implementation: Unlocking Global Commerce
As the first multilateral trade agreement concluded under WTO, the TFA could boost global trade by over $1 trillion through simplified procedures, increased transparency, and enhanced cooperation. The meeting focused on accelerating implementation, particularly in developing nations, through:
- Establishing national trade facilitation committees
- Streamlining customs procedures and documentation
- Improving regulatory transparency
- Expanding technical assistance programs
E-Commerce Transformation: Reshaping Global Trade Patterns
The rapid growth of cross-border e-commerce presents new customs challenges, including:
- Effective oversight of high-volume, low-value shipments
- Data security and privacy protection
- Tax collection mechanisms
Building on WCO's first e-commerce conference, participants recommended establishing data exchange platforms, implementing risk-based inspection systems, and strengthening international enforcement cooperation.
Leadership Dialogue and Regional Cooperation
The meeting featured discussions with WCO Secretary General Kunio Mikuriya, Commissioner Kateshumbwa, and WCO Council Chair Enrique Canon (Uruguay), enabling private sector input into policy development.
On the second day, Eastern and Southern African representatives explored forming a regional private sector group to strengthen trade cooperation, improve policy engagement, and enhance business competitiveness across the continent.
The Kampala meeting successfully advanced key initiatives to modernize global trade systems, demonstrating WCO's leadership in creating more efficient, secure, and inclusive international commerce frameworks.