Articles

Understanding the terms Double Taxation and Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements (DTAAs) is crucial in the field of international taxation, as they encapsulate complex scenarios that impact cross-border … trade and investments. This paper aims to unravel the conceptual framework of DTAAs, assessing their advantages and disadvantages in the realm of international trade. By presenting case studies, this paper endeavors to delineate how DTAAs influence international trade decisions, offering a pragmatic understanding of their significance.

According to UNCTAD, 90 % of global trade is subject to non-tariff measures (NTMs). NTMs can increase trade costs three times as much as tariffs. NTMs often lack transparency. This increases … uncertainty and unpredictability in global trade. At the same time, NTMs can be beneficial for international trade, as they guarantee quality through certification, provide information about products through labelling, reflect a commitment to socially important issues through labelling and environmental standards, etc. This article briefly describes what non-tariff measures are, what purpose they fulfil and what impact they have.

In the manufacturing industry, there are often complex supply chains where chemical substances cross borders between the UK and the EU several times. In this article we provide an overview of … how REACH works in the EU (including the current revision) and in the UK, the implications for businesses and also address the Windsor Framework for Northern Ireland. Most companies use chemicals, sometimes even without realising it, therefore you need to check your obligations if you handle any chemicals in your industrial or professional activity. You might have some responsibilities under EU REACH or UK REACH or both.

As in other sectors, the logistics sector has benefited from digitization in recent years, allowing a smoother flow of goods across the globe. These advancements have promised, and to some extent … also delivered, efficiency and convenience. However, a more ‘inconvenient truth’ today is that a considerable volume of critical information still circulates in the form of non-standardized documents sent via email. Today, new developments in Artificial Intelligence are proving promising in enabling the data extraction of these unstructured documents and scans to finally fully break the paper chain.

Quality data is the lifeblood of an efficient Customs clearance process. All Customs tasks and responsibilities are performed, at least in part, on the basis of data received from businesses … engaged in trade – for example, data for purposes of revenue collection, risk management, admissibility checks, resource allocation and cooperation with other agencies, as well as the collection of statistical data for macroeconomic decisions.

In a world where international trade is the lifeblood of economies, ensuring the smooth flow of goods across borders while maintaining rigorous controls is a challenging balancing act. Dubai, … one of the world’s busiest trade hubs, is meeting this challenge head-on by investing in advance technology and embracing the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance trade facilitation and border control. These efforts are poised not only to bolster Dubai’s position as a global trade and tourist hub, but also to set new standards for Customs operations and services worldwide, which has reflected positively on Dubai Customs client happiness index reaching a score of 98% for smart and electronic services. Some of the projects developed using AI are presented below.

Customs administrations have a full array of tools and technologies at their disposal to test material and substances – both in the field and in their labs. These tools all have benefits and … limitations. This article introduces an innovation which enables field officers to analyse trace materials left on any items and obtain the specific name of a trace level substance. Not only can they confirm or allay their suspicions rapidly, but they can also proceed to physical inspection with all the precautions needed.

One of the chapters of the innovation white paper[1] recently published by the International Association of Ports and Harbours (IAPH) is titled “Innovation in ports – not only about technology”. … It argues that innovation is also about process efficiency, and this includes how data flows among stakeholders and how it is used. Today, thanks to IoT technology, information flow can be generated by cargo containers themselves and be shared across many actors, improving the quality of transport and logistics performance by enabling collaboration among stakeholders.

There are many discussions about the efficiency of classification assistance tools. In this article, we argue that an AI-based tool, if well-built and properly used, can support classification … experts, enabling them to focus their attention on unusual and difficult product classifications.

One of the benefits of being a Customs broker providing services at the international level is experiencing the flexibility and efficiency of many Customs authorities. One of the challenges is … dealing with inconsistencies in how they apply regulations, and the lack of a standard in the processes and technologies they use, which prevents them from collaborating more productively with each other. In this article, we compile input from companies, organizations and individuals to give an overview of the challenges they face, explain existing co-operation mechanisms between Customs, brokers and intermediaries, and explore what more could be done.

Maritime transport carries 90 percent of global merchandise trade[1], and impediments to ports’ logistical chains have tangible repercussions in terms of higher trade costs and even shortages … of goods and materials. The chains include numerous entities, spanning shipping lines, carrier agents, terminal operators, freight forwarders, road haulage operators, train operators, Port State Control, as well as Customs administrations and other regulatory authorities.

The Foundation for International Development Studies and Research has published a working paper, written by Thomas Cantens of the WCO Secretariat’s Research Unit, that examines the implications … of the use of generative artificial intelligence (GAI) in the field of public administration. This article provides a brief summary of the content of that paper.

Three HS Recommendations were adopted by the WCO Council in June 2023. These Recommendations relate to expected amendments and invite Parties to the HS Convention to insert new subheadings in … their national statistical nomenclatures as an interim measure until the next version of the HS enters into force on 1 January 2028.

What are the pitfalls and opportunities of 42 import procedure? What about post-Brexit VAT? What do you need to know about import GST (VAT) in Canada? Do traders and brokers understand excise … risk? What about "domestic" import taxation in Latvia? The CBAM – what does the future hold? These were the main questions discussed during the 17th Authors' Meeting on 24 August. We invite you to read the key points from this meeting in the article below.

The link between climate change and biodiversity loss is by now well established. As part of its “Green Deal”, the European Union Deforestation Regulation has been published in the Official Journal. … This Regulation seeks to protect the worlds forests by banning certain products from being placed on the EU market. This will create an extra layer of bureaucracy for operators in the EU.

EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) regulation entered its transitional phase on 1st October, 2023. From that day on, importers have to collect and report data on greenhouse gases … emitted during the production of CBAM goods. Since the data must be collected from the manufacturers in non-EU countries, a process must be established for the corresponding communication. Given the complexity of supply chains, this process may involve multiple actors between the importer and third country facilities. In addition, several EU and national authorities are involved. Who is/can be who? Who does what? What are the responsibilities?