Security role of the customs administration in the international trade

Abstract

Economic development of any country relies on international trade. International trade is a complex process with a large number of actors involved in. Unfortunately, national and trans-national security treats to the international trade continue to increase in diversity, complexity, number and consequences. Customs authorities have major roll in trade facilitation, but on the other hand they have to fulfill its obligations in terms of safety and protection of its economy and citizens. In light of the increasing terrorist threats and migrant crises, the state requires of its Customs authority economic and physical protection, but the other participants in international trade require uniformity, predictability, transparency and efficiency of the customs procedure. In this complex constellation, the role of the Customs is to provide facilitation of international trade by accelerating and simplifying of customs procedure, while identifying those who pose a security threat at the same time. Finding the correct balance between security measures and facilitation of international trade is a tough challenge. While the costs of trade security measures are high, the costs of not taking one are even higher. The costs of ignoring trade security are exposure to security threats of the economy and citizens and loss of competitiveness. Customs administrations must have note trade security and trade facilitation as two major tasks and must attach great importance to both by taking effective measures to ensure their realizations and at the same time strike a balance between the two. This paper reviews the core concepts of security, assesses its linkages with trade facilitation and analyzes the role of Customs administration in this process. Using statistical methods, calculations will be made on the indicators on the security role of the Macedonian customs grouped in to two main groups: 16 Original scientific article 136 Indicators on the crime detection and Indicators on the implementation of risk management approach.