APEC customs officials agree to pursue simplification of procedures

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TOKYO, Sept. 14 Kyodo -
Pacific Rim economies on Tuesday agreed at a meeting of customs administration
officials that they need to promote trade through the simplification of customs
procedures and with tougher measures to tackle intellectual property
violations.
The one-day gathering in Tokyo of customs directors-general and commissioners
is part of a series of meetings Japan is hosting as the chair of this year's
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.
In a chair's statement issued after the meeting, the participants agreed on
eight priorities, including the development of a program in each economy that
would enable government-designated traders to have access to simplified customs
procedures.
The so-called Authorized Economic Operator programs have become popular as many
countries are concerned about the safety of incoming goods especially after the
Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States in 2001.
''Recognizing the importance of realizing trade facilitation and trade security
at a high level, we support the establishment of an AEO program in each
economy,'' the statement said.
As part of efforts to counter trading of fake brand-name products, the
participants also agreed on the need to enhance border enforcement on
intellectual property rights.
Other priority areas included cooperation among customs administrations, and
contribution to the negotiations on trade facilitation at the World Trade
Organization.
The 21-member APEC accounts for more than half of the world's economic output
and 44 percent of its trade by value. It includes among its members Australia,
China, Japan, Peru, Russia, South Korea, Taiwan, the United States, and seven
members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
==Kyodo
2010-09-14 23:23:43