WCO Says Customs Issues Addressed at APEC Meeting
According to the World Customs Organization, the APEC Leaders’ Honolulu Declaration - Toward a Seamless Regional Economy” released on November 13, 2011, builds on the 2010 Yokohama Vision and reaffirms these leaders' support to further open markets and facilitate trade, and is supported by the November 11 Statement of the 2011 APEC Ministers’ Meeting. Both Statements highlight the importance of various Customs-related issues in reducing the time, cost and uncertainty of moving goods in the Asia/Pacific region.
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WCO Says APEC Recognizes the Importance of the AEO Program and MRAs
The Ministers’ Statement recognizes the WCO as a cooperative partner to help APEC Economies in developing and implementing Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) programs and furthermore, mutual recognition arrangements (MRAs) for programs in the region. In order to support the Customs authorities throughout the region when identifying effective practices for intellectual property enforcement at the border, the Ministers also endorsed the APEC Guidelines for Customs Border Enforcement of Counterfeiting and Piracy.
Encourages Low Value Shipment Duty Exemption, Streamlined Documents, Etc.
The Leaders’ Statement encourages the establishment of a minimis value that will exempt low-value shipments from Customs duties and streamline entry documentation requirements. In addition, it supports initiatives to ensure trade recovery, to facilitate trade in remanufactured goods and in products derived from innovative agricultural technologies, and to facilitate regional travel among others.