WCO Promotes Green Customs for Sustainable Trade

WCO Promotes Green Customs for Sustainable Trade

The WCO's 'Global Green Customs Conference' brought together experts in trade, customs, and environment to discuss border environmental protection. The conference focused on topics such as the circular economy, waste trade, timber trade, and HS code classification, emphasizing the crucial role and responsibility of customs in promoting green trade, combating illegal trade, and building a sustainable future. The conference aimed to strengthen international cooperation, raise public awareness, and collectively address global environmental challenges.

12/30/2025 Customs Knowledge
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Colombia Tax Authority Bolsters Leadership with WCO Training

Colombia Tax Authority Bolsters Leadership with WCO Training

The World Customs Organization (WCO) successfully held its first virtual Leadership and Management Development (LMD) program at the request of the Colombian National Tax and Customs Directorate (DIAN). The program, which included modules on crisis management, effectively enhanced the leadership, teamwork, and organizational strategic capabilities of DIAN executives. The Director of DIAN highly praised the program and expressed anticipation for future collaboration. This initiative demonstrates the WCO's commitment to supporting its members in developing strong leadership within their customs administrations.

12/30/2025 Customs Knowledge
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WCO Upgrades Gender Equality Tool for Customs Agencies

WCO Upgrades Gender Equality Tool for Customs Agencies

The World Customs Organization (WCO) has released an updated Gender Equality Organizational Assessment Tool (GEOAT) to assist member customs and tax administrations in assessing the integration of gender equality and diversity within their internal policies, practices, and external relations. The 2023 update focuses on security, action, and user experience. It includes a new security and safety chapter, strengthens action-oriented templates, and optimizes user experience design. This aims to promote gender equality within the customs domain and improve organizational performance through a more inclusive and equitable environment.

01/05/2026 Customs Knowledge
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Serbian Customs Adopts Wcos Competencybased HR Model

Serbian Customs Adopts Wcos Competencybased HR Model

The World Customs Organization (WCO) conducted a Competency-Based Human Resource Management (CBHRM) workshop for the Serbian government, aiming to enhance human resource management and promote customs modernization within Serbian Customs. The workshop covered strategic HRM, HRM systems, the CBHRM framework, and project management. This initiative supports Serbian Customs in building a talent-driven organization.

01/05/2026 Customs Knowledge
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Virtual Classrooms Revolutionize Customs Training Worldwide

Virtual Classrooms Revolutionize Customs Training Worldwide

A guide to transforming to a customs live virtual classroom: break through time and space limitations, reduce costs, enhance interaction, and improve team professional capabilities. This approach offers a flexible and engaging learning environment, allowing customs personnel to access training resources regardless of their location. By leveraging virtual technology, customs organizations can optimize training budgets while fostering a more interactive and collaborative learning experience, ultimately leading to enhanced skills and improved performance across the board.

01/05/2026 Customs Knowledge
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WCO Promotes Gender Equality in Global Customs Operations

WCO Promotes Gender Equality in Global Customs Operations

The WCO Gender Equality Conference highlighted progress in gender equality within customs administrations, sharing best practices and urging member collaboration to build a fair and inclusive environment. The conference emphasized the importance of mainstreaming gender perspectives in customs policies and operations. Participants discussed strategies for promoting women's leadership and addressing gender-based discrimination. The call for collaborative efforts aims to foster a global customs community that values diversity and ensures equal opportunities for all, ultimately contributing to more effective and equitable trade facilitation.

01/05/2026 Customs Knowledge
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WCO Report Green HS Codes Boost Sustainable Trade

WCO Report Green HS Codes Boost Sustainable Trade

The WCO report highlights the crucial role of HS codes in promoting environmentally friendly trade, as discussed in the "Visualizing Green HS" workshop. The report emphasizes the need for collaboration to translate discussions into action, optimizing the HS coding system to identify and facilitate trade in environmentally sound goods. This aims to drive global sustainable development and provide a clear roadmap for the greening of HS codes. It underscores the importance of a harmonized system that accurately reflects and supports green trade initiatives worldwide.

01/05/2026 Customs Knowledge
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WCO Launches Leadership Program for Palestinian Customs Officers

WCO Launches Leadership Program for Palestinian Customs Officers

The WCO conducted a leadership workshop for Palestinian Customs, aiming to enhance the skills of middle and senior managers and support customs modernization. The workshop received positive feedback from participants. The training focused on improving leadership capabilities within the customs administration to facilitate more effective operations and contribute to the overall modernization efforts of Palestinian Customs. This initiative is expected to have a significant impact on the efficiency and effectiveness of customs procedures in Palestine.

01/05/2026 Customs Knowledge
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Benin Customs Adopts Competency Model to Enhance Efficiency

Benin Customs Adopts Competency Model to Enhance Efficiency

With the support of the Swedish government through the WACAM project, Benin Customs has successfully implemented a competency-based human resource management system. This system covers key areas such as recruitment, training, and performance evaluation, aiming to enhance the overall effectiveness of the customs administration. The Minister of Finance expressed support for the project and hopes to extend it to the tax department. A pilot competency assessment project will be launched at Cotonou Airport, laying the foundation for the modernization of human resources within Benin Customs.

01/05/2026 Customs Knowledge
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Global Trade Adopts Green Customs Codes for Sustainability

Global Trade Adopts Green Customs Codes for Sustainability

The World Customs Organization (WCO) has launched a global “Green Customs” reflection, exploring revisions to the Harmonized System (HS) code to better integrate environmental considerations and promote a global green economy through a series of workshops. These workshops focus on five key areas: food, chemicals, textiles, basic materials, and green technologies. They provide valuable insights and recommendations for the 'greening' of the HS coding system, aiming to build a more sustainable future. The initiative seeks to leverage trade policies to support environmental protection and sustainable development goals.

01/05/2026 Customs Knowledge
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