Vietnam re-elected Chairman of the World Customs Organization's Standing Technical Committee

This event affirms Vietnam's increasingly important position and role in shaping global customs policies and operations, and acknowledges Vietnam's positive and effective contributions during its past chairmanship.

PTC members presented flowers to Ms. Nguyen Thi Vinh Hoai, congratulating Vietnam on its first success during her term as PTC Chairwoman. Photo: VNA

Taking place at the WCO headquarters in Brussels, the meeting attracted nearly 300 delegates, who are leading experts in the customs field from member agencies, international organizations such as the World Trade Organization (WTO), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the private sector and research institutions around the world, according to a VNA correspondent in Brussels.

Delegates focused on in-depth discussions to develop solutions and strategies for the global customs industry to effectively respond to current multi-dimensional challenges, including the impact of climate change, the ongoing digital transformation process and the dramatic increase in international trade volume, especially the explosion of e-commerce.

Vietnam's continued role as Chair of the PTC for the 2025-2026 term, chaired by Ms. Nguyen Thi Vinh Hoai - Counselor of the Vietnamese Embassy in Belgium, representative of Vietnam Customs at the WCO, is a testament to the international customs community's trust and appreciation of Vietnam's leadership capacity and substantial contributions in promoting important WCO initiatives.

During 4 days of intensive and effective work, delegates focused on discussions and achieved many important results in key areas. Regarding e-commerce - a strategic priority of the WCO, the meeting had an in-depth discussion, focusing on issues such as effectively handling low-value goods, enhancing cooperation with relevant partners and applying modern digital technology to improve operational efficiency, while ensuring harmony between trade facilitation and compliance with legal regulations.

In the area of ​​building and strengthening the global customs network, PTC discussed the global customs data exchange platform (CDEP), a potential tool to enhance international cooperation, reduce tax losses and improve risk control through real-time automatic data exchange.

Regarding rules of origin, the meeting approved the results of the feasibility study on the Interoperability Framework for Certificates of Origin - an important step in the digitalization efforts and enhanced customs cooperation. The PTC also noted the updated WCO guidelines on dealing with origin irregularities.

The Smart Customs project also received high praise, with specific results such as the development and updating of research reports on breakthrough technologies, the publication of in-depth research on implementation challenges, and the launch of the Smart Customs Community portal.

Regarding the implementation of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), the contents of the Mercator program have been updated to support governments in effectively implementing trade facilitation measures.

In an effort to promote Green Customs, PTC discussed and issued new guidelines for implementing the Green Customs Action Plan, emphasizing the role of customs in addressing environmental challenges.

The Commission also noted and issued new guidance for implementing activities in the Action Plan for Vulnerable Borders, to maintain global supply chain security in the most challenging circumstances.

In addition, the meeting reviewed the progress of revising the SAFE Framework of Standards, discussed the inclusion of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) programme, practical guidelines on free zones, the results of the study on cargo clearance time, the development of a customs performance measurement mechanism (PMM), and the promotion of the application of information technology (ICT) in customs management.

In her closing remarks, Ms. Nguyen Thi Vinh Hoai emphasized that in the context of the global customs sector facing many challenges and opportunities, strengthening international cooperation, promoting innovation and technology application, improving adaptability and sustainable development is extremely important to promote trade facilitation and ensure global supply chain security. Vietnam's continued role as PTC Chair is an opportunity for Vietnam to make a stronger contribution to the development of the world customs sector in the coming period.

Huong Giang (Vietnam News Agency)

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/thoi-su/viet-nam-tai-dac-cu-chu-tich-uy-ban-ky-thuat-thuong-truc-to-chuc-hai-quan-the-gioi-20250514053148649.htm