Community advances on harmonized customs regulations
Representatives of Customs Administrations and Attorney’s General offices began meeting in Antigua and Barbuda on Monday to hold discussions on the completion of harmonized customs regulations across the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
The establishment of harmonized customs legislation and customs procedures, and effective customs systems and procedures governing the movement of goods, people and conveyances across customs borders, are mandates identified in the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas.
“As the Community continues to construct the pillars of true economic integration, the application of harmonized customs legislation is a vital prerequisite for an eventual customs union”, Director, External Trade, CARICOM Secretariat, Mr. David Hales pointed out at the opening ceremony of the Eighth Joint Meeting of Customs Officials and Regional Chief Parliamentary Counsel on Harmonized Customs Regulations.
The legal instrument that the meeting seeks to develop would contain the basis for all customs procedures which, for the most part, would be applied uniformly throughout the CARICOM Single Market, Mr. Hales said.
“The impact of such application will be of benefit to other aspects of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) such as the movement of persons, the movement of capital and right of establishment; all of which can stimulate production integration which continues to be a long-term objective of the regional integration process. Additionally, harmonized customs legislation will contribute to an environment of predictability for intra- and extra-regional trade and hopefully help to enhance the competitiveness of regionally produced goods in third country markets,” he added.
Among the matters that are expected to be taken into consideration at the meeting are trends in trade, national security, efficiency of revenue collection, international customs best practices and customs modernization standards.
The ACP Business Climate Facility (BizClim) provided the resources for the CARICOM Secretariat to secure the technical assistance to convene the five-day meeting.