Sccpconvenor S Summary Report to CTI

Sccpconvenor S Summary Report to CTI

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2013/SOM3/CTI/017

Agenda Item: 7

SCCPConvenor’s Summary Report to CTI

Purpose: Information

Submitted by: SCCP Convenor

/ Third Committee on Trade and Investment Meeting
Medan, Indonesia
2-3 July 2013

OAA ISSUE AREA:

CONVENOR’S SUMMARY REPORT TO CTI

  1. INTRODUCTION

The APEC Sub-Committee on Customs Procedures (SCCP) was established in 1994. Its main objectives are to ensure and/or enhance trade facilitation, trade security and related enforcement matters, taking into account the responsibility of each Customs Administration for the effective implementation of legitimate border measures.

  1. IMPLEMENTATION of 2013 WORK PROGRAMME, WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO APEC Ministers TASKING STATEMENT2013:

A) MULTILATERAL TRADING SYSTEM

SCCP continues to engage the World Customs Organization (WCO) to participate in SCCP meetings and events as an official guest as well as to strengthen the sharing of information between the SCCP and the WCO.

In the second meeting of SCCP 2013, Representative of the WCO provided further information on Economic Competitiveness Package.

B) BOGOR GOALS

C) TRADE AND INVESTMENT LIBERALIZATION, REGIONAL ECONOMIC INTEGRATION

  1. Promoting Green Growth, Trade and Investment in Environmental Goods and Services (EGS)
  2. IPR / Digital Economy
  • SCCP discussed concept papers from Japan and Hong Kong, China concerning the workshop on IPR scheduled to be held in the latter half of February to the beginning of March 2014.
  • SCCP discussed the result of the enforcement operation on counterfeit electronics organized by the United States. The objectives of the operation are to enhance border enforcement of IPR, and to protect consumers and economic security from counterfeit electronics.
  1. Advancing Regulatory Convergence and Coherence

SCCP discussed Related Discussion Matrixmade by Japan. The matrix lists fora/sub-fora that discuss items related to Customs, such as AEO, Single Window, IPR, etc.

  1. Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)
  • Risk Management

SCCP discussed several agenda under this item as follows:

  1. The analysis of the result of the questionnaire on the initiative “Exchanging Outward Cargo Manifest through Single Web-based Application” which was circulated during intersession by Indonesia. Further work will occur intersessionally to share experiences of economies thathave advanced Manifest Program in place.
  2. The analysis of the result ofthe questionnaire on the initiative “Implementation of PNRGOV Standard Message for International Flights among Airlines of APEC Members”.
  3. Indonesia proposed to hold a regional workshop on the “Implementation of PNRGOV Standard Message in APEC Economies”. The workshop is scheduled to be held on October 2013 in Jakarta with participants from both customs administrations and private sectors. Indonesia expected that the workshop will enable its participats to learn about best practices from economies that have implemented this program.
  4. Hong Kong, China presented a paper concerning the development of Computer Forensic Investigation in Hong Kong Customs. Hong Kong, China also shared notable cases solved by Hong Kong Customs with the help of computer forensics.

D) ESTABLISHING RELIABLE SUPPLY CHAINS

1. Supply Chain Connectivity

SCCP discussed several agenda under this item, as follows:

  • The analysis of the result of the questionnaire on Chokepoint4that was circulated during the intersession by Japan. The questionnaire discussesWCO Guidelines for the Immediate Release of Consignments, andTime Release Study (TRS).
  • Japan reported the result of the Single Window questionnaire that is developed jointly with Chinese Taipei. The questionnaire identifies that functions related to Customs procedures that are effective for trade facilitation have been covered by the systems of most of the economies.
  • After Chile presented the result of the survey on chokepoint 8 (transit) in SCCP I, Chile presented analysis on a comparative study of the free trade agreements in transit matters and proposed a concept note on focalized workshop ideally with private sector to be held next year and to share best practice and establish new guidelines.
  • Colombia’s presentation concerning itsimprovements in the Single Window for Foreign Trade aimed at increasing the competiveness.
  • SCCP discussed and noted the presentation from representative of ABAC on Global Data Standard.The SCCP Chair proposed to ask CTI to coordinate inter-fora meeting because related sub-fora, SCCP, SCSC and MAG should have good communication on this proposal in conjunction with representatives from WCO.

2. Secure Trade and Travel

SCCP discussed the report from The United States on the result of the first AEO workshop on February 27-28, 2013 in Bangkok, Thailand and the second AEO workshop on May 14-15, 2013 in Santiago, Chile.

  1. Disaster Management

The SCCP has participated in responding to the questionnaire on The Emergency Response Travel Facilitation (ERTF) Together with other APEC fora, such as BMG, and EPWG.

E) STRENGTHENING FOOD SECURITY

F) INTENSIVE COOPERATION TO FOSTER INNOVATIVE GROWTH

G) STRENGTHENING APEC

1. Enhancing the Role of the Private Sector in APEC

  • In the first meeting in Jakarta, SCCP established Virtual Working Group, with the objective to enhance cooperation and coordination between the public and private sector in order to jointly develop and progress SCCP priorities, and to focus on enhancing the SCCP’s capacity to contribute to secure trade, while facilitating the legitimate movement of trade.

VWG consists of:

- Co-chair from Customs: New Zealand

- Co-chair from Business: Ms. Nasim Deylami, United States Council for International Business

- Secretariat: the United States

- Customs Steering Group Members: Australia, Canada, China, Japan, the United States and Thailand

- Private Sector Steering Group Members: Australia , Canada, and the United States.

  • Since the inception of the Virtual Working Group, 26 participants have expressed interest in joining the group.

The private sector members are currently working to develop input for the group which set out the private sector suggestions and priorities, proposed projects, and how they can best contribute to the group and to APEC.

H) other business

SCCP discussed the presentation between The United States and Canada on their joint Beyond the Border initiative. The outcomes of the action plan are to reduce regulatory impediments, improve the approach to identity management, improve information sharing between governments, and create immense economic benefits for both countries.

i ) FORECAST OF TILF Outcomes/Deliverables for 2013

  1. Concept notefrom Japan and Hong Kong, China concerning the workshop on IPR in the latter half of February to the beginning of March 2014.
  2. Concept notefrom Indonesia, Australia, and Peru concerning Workshop on “Implementation of PNRGOV Standard Message in APEC Economies,” in October 2013 in Jakarta.

J)Decision Points Needed from CTI

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