The 29th Meeting of ASEAN Directors-General of Customs held via video conference on 18-19 August 202 was successful and expressed the coalition, strong will and determination of 10 ASEAN Customs Administrations in overcoming challenges and continuing sustainable development.

The Joint Media Statement of the 29th Meeting of
the ASEAN Directors-General of Customs

Customs News would like to introduce main contents of the Joint Media Statement

After two days of the Meeting chaired by Mr. Kyaw Htin, Director General of Myanmar Customs Department, 100% of attendants have approved the Joint Media Statement and results of the 29th Meeting of ASEAN Directors-General of Customs.

1. The 29th Meeting of the ASEAN Directors-General of Customs was held via video conference on 18-19 August 2020. The meeting was chaired by Mr. Kyaw Htin, Director General of Myanmar Customs Department and was attended by 10 ASEAN Member States (AMS) and ASEAN Secretariat. The Meeting was preceded by an Informal Morning Coffee Chat.

2. The ASEAN DGs of Customs commended the work progress reported by the ASEAN Coordinating Committee on Customs (CCC); Customs Procedures and Trade Facilitation Working Group (CPTFWG) and its sub-working groups namely Technical Sub-Working Group on Classification, Sub-Working Group on ASEAN Customs Transit System (SWG-ACTS) as well as Sub-Working Group on ASEAN AEO MRA (SWG-AAMRA); Customs Enforcement and Compliance Working Group (CECWG); Customs Capacity Building Working Group (CCBWG) and the ASEAN Single Window Steering Committee (ASWSC).

3. The ASEAN DGs of Customs welcomed the completion of the review on the Strategic Plans of Customs Development (SPCD) 2016-2020 and endorsed the SPCD 2021-2025 for implementation by the working groups in the next five (5) years. As part of streamlining the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) work processes, the Terms of References (TORs) of the Customs working bodies were reviewed and the updated TORs were also endorsed in this Meeting.

4. The ASEAN DGs of Customs discussed and provided guidance on the issues and concerns raised by the working groups.

ASEAN Harmonised Tariff Nomenclature (AHTN)

5. The ASEAN DGs of Customs welcomed the ongoing review of AHTN 2017 and the development of AHTN 2022 version with scheduled implementation by January 2022 and urged all AMSs to complete and implement AHTN 2022 in timely manner. The AHTN ensures uniformity, transparency, and simplification in the classification of goods in the region. In the event of pandemic last longer and affects the completion of AHTN review, ASEAN DGs of Customs instructed TSWGC to set new timeline and coordinate with related stakeholders to ensure that the implementation of AHTN 2022 would not impact on wider economic interest.

Customs Valuation

6. The ASEAN DGs of Customs endorsed the ASEAN Customs Valuation Guide (ACVG) 2019, the updated version of ACVG 2003, which was designed to address Customs valuation issues primarily from the ASEAN regional perspective, and was expected to provide ASEAN Member States with considerable assistance in their efforts to introduce the WTO rules of Customs valuation, both in law and in administrative practice. The webinar to introduce ACVG and related topics on Valuation and Transfer Pricing organised by Indonesia will be held on 24 August 2020.

ASEAN Customs Transit System (ACTS)

7. The ASEAN DGs of Customs were pleased to note that even during this extraordinary time, the pilot Participating Member States continue the preparation work to commence the ACTS Go Live in 2020. The ACTS would facilitate the movement of transit goods through ASEAN and mitigate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic.

Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Programme and ASEAN AEO Mutual Recognition Arrangement (AAMRA)

8. The ASEAN DGs of Customs welcomed the successful launch of the Philippines’ AEO programme in December 2019 and the steady progress in the establishment of the national AEO programmes of the remaining AMS.

9. The ASEAN DGs of Customs also commended the preliminary work that is underway on the establishment of an ASEAN AEO MRA on a pathfinder approach with the six (6) AMS with operational AEO programmes targeted by 2023.

Post Clearance Audit (PCA)

10. The ASEAN DGs of Customs noted that all AMS regularly uploaded Post Clearance Audit (PCA) related information on their official websites and encouraged AMS to continue providing the relevant updates in order to enhance private sector awareness of any changes pertaining to PCA regulations and legislations.

Public Security and Protection of the Society

11. The ASEAN DGs of Customs also noted the coordination and planned cooperation between Customs and ASEAN Network of Intellectual Property Enforcement Experts (ANIEE) on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) protection as well as the possible collaboration with ASEAN Working Group on Chemicals and Waste (AWGCW) to understand and provide more effective monitoring and procedures in the importation of plastic waste.

Capacity Building Initiatives

12. The ASEAN DGs of Customs noted human resources development and capacity building initiatives aimed at promoting modernization of Customs administration as well as narrowing the gap among Customs administrations in ASEAN.

Knowledge Based Service (KBS)

13. The ASEAN DGs of Customs were pleased to note the early stage development of the KBS website with the List of World Customs Organisation (WCO) Accredited Experts and the List of Regional Experts formally published during this meeting.

ASEAN Single Window (ASW)

14. The ASEAN DGs of Customs welcomed the exchange of the ATIGA e-Form D through the ASEAN Single Window among ten AMS which have been implemented since December 2019 and looked forward to the live operation of the ASEAN Customs Declaration Document (ACDD) among ready Member States in 2020.

Consultations with World Customs Organisation (WCO), Regional Office of Capacity Building in Asia Pacific (ROCB A/P), Dialogue Partners, and the Private Sector

15. The ASEAN DGs of Customs held consultation with the World Customs Organisation (WCO) to get better understanding on the priority programmes and strategic directions of the WCO in relations to the ASEAN customs community. The designation of Indonesia as the new WCO Vice Chair of Asia Pacific was anticipated to promote closer cooperation between ASEAN and WCO and to open wider opportunities for AMS to contribute to the advancement of WCO.

16. The ASEAN DGs of Customs also held consultation sessions with the Customs Administrations of Australia, China, Japan and Korea to strengthen Customs-to-Customs cooperation in the region.

17. The ASEAN DGs of Customs further engaged with the private sector, namely the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC), the EU-ASEAN Business Council (EU-ABC) and the US-ASEAN Business Council (US-ABC)to strengthen Customs-to-Business partnerships in the region.