January 26 marks International Customs Day around the world and both the World Customs Organization (WCO) and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) recognize its significance. Each year on this date, the WCO chooses a theme for its focus in the coming months. The WCO is dedicating 2022 to scaling up Customs digital transformation by embracing a data culture and building a data ecosystem.
In Canada, CBSA has reflected on its priorities and achievements in the past year with special attention to important issues raised during the pandemic. It has supported the WCO theme for 2022 by stating its ongoing commitment to technology and data.
The CBSA statement is found here: https://www.canada.ca/en/border-services-agency/news/2022/01/international-customs-day-2022-cbsa-keeping-our-border-safe-and-our-economy-strong-by-expanding-the-use-of-technologies-and-data.html and the French version is here: https://www.canada.ca/fr/agence-services-frontaliers/nouvelles/2022/01/journee-internationale-de-la-douane2022-lasfc-assure-la-securite-de-la-frontiere-et-la-vigueur-de-notre-economie-en-elargissant-lutilisation-des-te.html
Further Information from the WCO is found here: http://www.wcoomd.org/en/media/newsroom/2022/january/wco-dedicates-2022-to-scaling-up-customs-digital-transformation.aspx and a video message is available : https://youtu.be/xO9cV1ZGskM and the French version is here http://www.wcoomd.org/fr/media/newsroom/2022/january/wco-dedicates-2022-to-scaling-up-customs-digital-transformation.aspx video message https://youtu.be/Px3oZ9HBlaI
Customs brokers facilitate trade and ensure that security requirements of governments are met by managing data from numerous sources on behalf of many thousand importing and exporting clients. In its role as Secretariat of the international organization representing customs brokers (IFCBA) and a member of the WCO Private Sector Consultative Group (PSCG), the CSCB is committed to bring value to these discussions. CSCB President & CEO Carol West has led and participated in these discussions for many years and would welcome comments from members ([email protected]) as we continue to engage on and contribute value to these important subjects.
Happy International Customs Day!