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The WCO Secretariat organized the second edition of its Global Origin Conference, held from 10 to 12 March 2021, with the objective of stimulating the exchange of knowledge on the management … and implementation of rules of origin, both from a Customs and a trade operator perspective. Funded by the Korea Customs Service, the event was held online. Below are some of the key points made by the speakers.

The following article is not intended to be a scholarly or even comprehensive review of past or current activities under the World Trade Organization’s Agreement on Rules of Origin, or a detailed … analysis of the differences between preferential versus non-preferential rules of origin (which I am assuming most readers of this magazine already understand). Rather, this article offers more of a personal and subjective perspective on the problems associated with non-preferential rules, and humbly proposes possible approaches and options to minimize these problems, or at least stimulate discussions about potential remedies. These options are largely based on the perceived structure and architecture of the issues.

Binding Origin Information (BOI) refers to a written decision issued by a Customs administration that certifies the origin of goods. Also known as an “advance ruling regarding the origin of goods”, … such a decision is usually binding on the applicant and on the Customs authorities for a given amount of time.

The International Convention on the Simplification and Harmonization of Customs Procedures (Kyoto Convention) entered into force in 1974. To keep pace with the evolution of governments and international … trade, the Kyoto Convention was revised in the 1990s and entered into force as the Revised Kyoto Convention (RKC) on 3 February 2006. The RKC became the blueprint for modern and efficient Customs procedures for years to come.

Well-maintained master data is a basic requirement for the success of your projects. Therefore, get tips for efficient and sustainable master data maintenance - so that you are well prepared … in the project phase.

Continuing on the topic started by Samuel Draginich in the article "EVFTA: proof of origin when consignments are split in a country of transit", let us take a closer look at the statement on … origin - the only proof of EU preferential origin that might be issued under the EU-Vietnam FTA (EVFTA) - and the commercial document on which it may be made out; also in the case of splitting of consignment in a country of transit.

The EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) came into force on 1 August 2020. It is one of the most noteworthy EU FTAs that have come into force in recent years as it brings closer one of the … world’s largest economic blocs with the fastest-growing emerging economy in the world. Vietnam is widely considered to be the next regional powerhouse, rapidly emerging as one of the world’s premier manufacturing destinations. The EU wisely saw the value in crafting a closer partnership with Vietnam, a partnership that will undoubtedly reap immense rewards for both parties going forward. As the EVFTA is a work in progress amendments to the relevant guidance are still being made to clarify and improve its execution.

If your business buys goods from abroad and imports them, then the next customs audit target could be you. There are different types of customs audits, different triggers for an audit, and different … focuses during an audit. This article aims to demystify customs audits to help businesses stay ahead of the game.

Rules of preferential origin are an essential element of preferential trade agreements. They define the conditions under which a product is regarded as originating and can benefit from lower … rates of duty upon importation in the country of destination.

Product-specific rules of preferential origin determine requirements of working or processing which must be done on non-originating materials in order for the product manufactured to obtain originating … status.

Preferential origin agreements (or free trade agreements) generally have 3 methods by which goods can qualify depending on the specific tariff heading: wholly obtained, cumulation and change … of tariff heading (CTH). This article will discuss what happens when a good must qualify via CTH but cannot fulfill the rules.

Customs represent the regulatory touchpoint for internationally traded goods. The role of customs, like any law enforcement agency, is to ensure compliance with the law. The regulatory requirements … for which customs has administrative responsibility include import, export, and transit of goods, as well as any matters that are administered on behalf of other agencies, such as health, agriculture, taxation, environment, statistics.

ISO 31000 is the acknowledged international standard for managing risk. It is applicable to all organizations, regardless of type, size, activities and location, and covers all types of risk. … It was developed by a range of stakeholders and is intended for use by anyone who manages risks, not just professional risk managers

One of the conditions of a trade agreement is that goods must travel directly between the signatory countries. How is the direct transport rule enforced in practice? This article provides an … overview of the answers based on the experience of local practitioners from Lithuania, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Ukraine, Mexico, and Vietnam.

If an importer or exporter is unsure about the origin of their goods, or simply wants legal certainty, they can apply for a Binding Origin Information decision (BOI).A BOI, also referred to as … an advance ruling on origin, is a written decision on the origin of the good, issued by Customs to a company prior to an importation or exportation. The decision can cover preferential or non-preferential origin.

This article introduces a contemporary framework for managing compliance in the customs context that fully integrates the principal elements of customs risk and compliance management. In doing … so, it explores the manifold resources that have been developed by the World Customs Organization (WCO) and other parties that may be used by administrations to support implementation of the framework. The integrated model draws together the author’s contribution to the literature over several years and provides practitioners with a logical and inclusive methodology for managing compliance at a strategic or operational level.

This is the first “coffee break” article in our new series featuring thought leaders in the field of customs. Our guest is Mette Werdelin Azzam, a rules of origin geek who spent a decade at the … World Customs Organization (WCO) as the Senior Technical Officer focusing on origin. She is now is working as an independent Customs and Trade Agreement Specialist with rules of origin as her main expertise and passion.