Supply chain security: The customs community's response

Abstract

The international customs community has developed measures to secure and facilitate global trade which have been transformed into international standards for global implementation. These standards are designed to improve customs operations through enhanced risk management that is built upon Customs-to-Customs cooperation and Customs-to-Business partnerships. The standards are supported by existing WCO instruments, including the Revised Kyoto Convention on the Simplification and Harmonization of Customs Procedures, and fulfil the requirements of enhanced security and facilitation for legitimate trade in the 21st Century global trading system. The majority of WCO Members are currently implementing these standards through the development of Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programs, ensuring that they have the capacity to do so by requesting appropriate capacity building assistance.