WCO supports regional efforts to enhance Customs and Post cooperation in the Americas and Caribbean region

On 22 and 23 August 2024, the Universal Postal Union (UPU) and the Postal Union of the Americas, Spain and Portugal (PUASP) held a Regional Post-Customs Strategy Meeting in Oranjestad, Aruba. The World Customs Organization (WCO) strongly supported this important regional event, which brought together more than 40 officials from Customs administrations and postal operators in the Americas and Caribbean region. The objective of the meeting was to enhance cooperation between Customs and Posts at the strategic, policy and operational levels, and to share best practices necessary for the development of policies, regulations and associated project plans related to Electronic Advance Data (EAD), e-commerce and their implementation.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Goeffry Wever, Minister of Economic Affairs, Communication and Sustainable Development of Aruba, called for a proactive and unified approach to meet the demands of the modern world, driven by the global e-commerce market, and highlighted the key elements for an efficient postal supply chain: adopting new technologies; strengthening partnerships; sharing knowledge; and, providing mutual support.

During the high-level session, WCO Deputy Secretary General, Ricardo Treviño Chapa, spoke about the role of Customs in the rapidly changing global trade environment and the expansion of the e-commerce market. He emphasized the importance of facilitating and supporting the e-commerce supply chain through the implementation of the WCO Framework of Standards on Cross-Border E-Commerce and the development of an international Customs data ecosystem through the WCO Data Strategy, while strengthening cooperation with postal operators and other stakeholders to address the emerging threat of illicit drugs, weapons, IPR infringing goods, and other illegal goods smuggled through global postal supply chains.

UPU Deputy Director General, Marjan Osvald, and PUASP Secretary General, Franklin Castro, stressed the need to streamline the exchange of EAD with Customs and to implement risk management by modernizing techniques and equipment. They also called for a collaborative partnership at the national level to combat the smuggling of illicit goods through the mail.

During the event, participants shared their national experiences in promoting data exchange between Customs and Post and improving data quality to support effective risk management by Customs in destination areas. They also emphasized that collaborative efforts between Customs and Post are essential for the efficient processing of international postal items.

The WCO, UPU and PUASP commit to continue their efforts to assist their members in the region to further strengthen cooperation between Customs administrations and postal operators and to enhance facilitation, safety and security, and compliance of the global postal supply chain.