World Customs Organization

The World Customs Organization (WCO) is an intergovernmental organization that helps members (governments usually represented by customs administrations from 173 countries) communicate and cooperate on customs issues. It was established in 1952 as the Customs Cooperation Council, and it adopted its current name in 1994. The WCO is now recognized as the voice of the global customs community.

The WCO is particularly noted for its work in areas covering the development of global standards, the simplification and harmonization of customs procedures, trade supply chain security, the facilitation of international trade, the enhancement of customs enforcement and compliance activities, anticounter-feiting and piracy initiatives, public-private partnerships, integrity promotion, and sustainable global customs capacity-building programs. The WCO also maintains the international harmonized system goods nomenclature, and administers the technical aspects of the World Trade Organization (WTO) agreements on customs valuation and rules of origin.

Headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, the WCO has established an international standard classification of commodities called the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System, which is used to classify goods for tariff (taxes) purposes and the application of tariffs. The WCO has 170 members and the current secretary general is Michel Danet (1999-present) from France.

The WCO's activities and mission can be summarized as follows:

• The WCO is an independent intergovernmental body whose mission is to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of customs administrations.
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• The WCO represents 173 customs administrations across the globe that collectively process approximately 98 percent of world trade.
• The WCO's governing body—the Council—relies on the competence and skills of a secretariat and a range of technical and advisory committees to accomplish its mission. The secretariat comprises over 100 international officials, technical experts, and support staff of some nationalities.
• As a forum for dialogue and exchange of experiences between national customs delegates, the WCO offers its members a range of conventions and other international instruments, as well as technical assistance and training services provided either directly by the secretariat or with its participation.
• The WCO combats fraudulent activities internationally.
• The WCO's mission is to enhance the protection of society and national territory, and to secure and facilitate international trade.

The following historical time line covers many of the major developments in the WCO's history:

• 1947 WCO activities began when the 13 European governments represented in the Committee for European Economic Cooperation agreed to set up a study group. This group examined the possibility of establishing one or more inter-European customs unions based on the principles of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT).
• 1948 The study group set up two committees—an Economic Committee and a Customs Committee. The Economic Committee was the predecessor of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD); the Customs Committee became the Customs Co-operation Council (CCC).
• 1952 The convention formally establishing the CCC came into force. The Council is the governing body of the CCC and the inaugural session of the Council was held in Brussels on January 26, 1953.
• 1953 The inaugural session of the CCC Council was held in Brussels on January 26 in the presence of representatives of 17 European countries. This date is now celebrated annually as International Customs Day.
• 1974 The International Convention on the Simplification and Harmonization of Customs procedures (Kyoto Convention) entered into force on September 25.
• 1980 The Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in the Prevention, Repression, and Investigation of Customs Offences (Nairobi Convention) entered into force on May 21.
• 1988 The WCO's International Convention on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (HS Convention) entered into force on January 1.
• 1993 The WCO Council adopted the Arusha Declaration on Customs Integrity.
• 1994 The Council adopted the working name World Customs Organization.
• 1999 The WCO Council adopted the revised International Convention on the Simplification and Harmonization of Customs Procedures (Revised Kyoto Convention).
• 2002 The WCO celebrated its 50th anniversary and was honored with a visit by King Albert II of Belgium accompanied by Didier Reynders, the Belgian deputy prime minister and minister of finance.
• 2003 The WCO Council adopted the Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Customs Matters (Johannesburg Convention) in July.
• 2005 The WCO Council adopted the Framework of Standards to Secure and Facilitate Global Trade.
• 2006 The WCO launched the Columbus Program, the largest-ever customs capacity-building initiative committed to support implementation of the Framework Standards to Secure and Facilitate Global Trade. The Revised Kyoto Convention on the Simplification and Harmonization of Customs Procedures entered into force.
• 2007 The 2007 version of Harmonized System entered into force on January 1.

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