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While harmonization of origin rules remains a work in progress at the WTO, the WCO is continuing to assist its Members to enhance their understanding of the rules of origin, contained in various … free trade agreements.

In 2010, Korea’s trade volume reached USD 891.6 billion – accounting for 89% of the nation’s GDP of approximately USD 1 trillion – making Korea the 9th largest trading country in the world. Given … the huge contribution of foreign trade to the country’s GDP which shows its high level of dependency on external trade, the Korea Customs Service (KCS) has stepped up its effort to make innovations to the trade logistics system for speedier and more facilitated international trade.

Customs administrations and the IT industry gathered in Seattle from 11 to 13 May 2011 for the 10th WCO IT Conference & Exhibition to discuss developments around Cloud Computing and how this … new technology could help Customs and border security agencies to accomplish their mission of facilitating and securing legitimate international trade with higher effi ciency. Th e opening statements covered the full spectrum of issues explored during the event. Kunio Mikuriya, the Secretary General of the WCO, mentioned that borders divide but Customs connects. He regarded Cloud Computing as a means to facilitate Customs connectivity. Th e Deputy Commissioner of US Customs and Border Protection, David Aguilar, in turn emphasized the role of IT as a critical backbone of a country and, as such, ICT and Cloud Computing had to respond to the need to protect the sovereignty, privacy and confi dentiality of information.

TIACA has welcomed the WCO's decision to work towards reducing the profuse paper-based documentation that accompanies international air cargo shipments as a ‘significant step forward’.

On 9 December 2009, the WCO launched the latest version of its Data Model; a global solution for optimizing electronic data exchange. This version of the Model represents a significant development … as it will act as an enabler for improved management of cross-border transactions.

As Singapore Customs celebrated its 100th anniversary in January 2010 and took stock of its numerous achievements through the years, TradeNet – Singapore’s Single Window initiative, which marksits … 21st year in 2010 – stands out for its role in revolutionising the trade documentation process in the city-state. TradeNet has enhanced the competitiveness of Singapore as a global trade hub, creating an overall positive trading environment for the country and the region. We trace the development and progress of this electronic wonder that makes paperwork a thing of the past.

Against an overwhelmingly liberal trade background, the modern Customs environment appears to be dominated by seeking the best possible balance between facilitation and security of international … trade, followed by the impact of information and communication technology (ICT) on Customs clearance activities.

In its efforts to facilitate the movement of transit trade across Jordan and to balance security and facilitation requirements, Jordan Customs has begun implementing an electronic Transit Monitoring … and Facilitation System (TMFS), the first of its kind used by a Customs administration.

The WCO has established a global database of preferential trade agreements and related rules of origin in accordance with the Action Plan to improve the understanding and application of preferential … rules of origin endorsed by the WCO Council in June 2007.

At the 2009 WCO IT Conference and Exhibition which took place from 22 to 24 April 2009 in Marrakesh (Morocco), almost 600 delegates from Customs, other border regulatory agencies and the private … sector met to analyze the international trade single window concept and to consider the benefits associated with such a system.