ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE ENCOURAGES ORGANIZATIONS AND GOVERNMENTS TO WORK TOGETHER FOR SECURE TRADE

ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE ENCOURAGES ORGANIZATIONS

AND GOVERNMENTS TO WORK TOGETHER FOR SECURE TRADE

GENEVA, 18 November (ECE) -- From 13 to 14 November 2003, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the World Customs Organization (WCO) hosted a meeting on trade security and trade facilitation.

The meeting, chaired by Ambassador Dencho Georgiev, Representative of Bulgaria to the World Trade Organization, was attended by over one hundred participants from Administration, Trade and Transport involved in international trade and security.  It provided the opportunity for all stakeholders to express their views on the various security-related initiatives currently under way.  Different approaches (legislative, compliance, certification, partnership) were discussed, and the need to balance security and facilitation in all of these approaches were emphasised to ensure that economic growth and stability were not undermined in the process.

During the two-day exchange of views, the participants stressed that the approach to security implementation should be proportional to the risk.  While the need for advance information was recognized, participants stated that the adoption of an online-only approach could create a trade divide.  Addressing the concerns expressed by developing countries on the potential for security initiatives to reduce their competitiveness in international trade, the participants underlined the importance of the implementation of existing or currently developed international instruments, such as the Revised Kyoto Convention of the WCO, the Unique Consignment Reference, the United Nations Layout Key for Trade Documents, the United Nations Trade Data Elements Directory (UNTDED), and the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS Code) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).  Such instruments will reinforce the efforts of individual countries to achieve more security in their foreign trade and avoid the risk of exclusion of some countries and smaller enterprises.

The meeting provided an opportunity to formulate a strong message towards a collaborative approach by all governments, international organizations and the business community, in order to ensure more efficiency and effectiveness in providing security in the international trading system.  Further, it was emphasized that partnerships between the private sector and official control bodies, especially Customs, are essential.  It was stated that, while it is important to encourage compliance and compliant traders, it is even more important to reinforce trust and exchange of information between the two groups of actors, which could be the basis for a secure international trading system.

At the end of the meeting, J. Pulford, Head of Modernisation of Customs Unit, DG Taxation and Customs Union, European Commission, noted that “the contributions to the meeting show the importance of continuing the work in this area” and was interested in the suggestion of having another meeting or following this work in a broader context.  He also stressed that “there is a real need not to duplicate work done in other sectors and to build on the work done by these different sectors”.

In his conclusions, the Chairman mentioned that the participants had indicated a desire to intensify their work with UNECE in identifying and consolidating their overall approach to security and facilitation, complementary to the work already under way in other forums, such as the WCO Task Force on Security and Facilitation.  Further work would benefit from the development of international recommendations, best practice, or standards.

For further information, please contact:  Hans A. Hansell, Deputy Director; or Tom Butterly, UNECE Trade Development and Timber Division, Palais des Nations, CH - 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland; tel:  +41(0)22 917 11 78, fax:  +41(0)22 917 06 29, e-mail:  tom.butterly@unece.org

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