World Customs Organisation

Sub-subject: The World Customs Organisation (WCO). The Harmonised System. Syllabus:

1. Introduction to the World Customs Organisation (WCO).
2. Harmonised System (HS).
3. Customs Valuation.
4. Rules of Origin.
5. Agreement on Rules of Origin (World Trade Organisation).
6. Customs Enforcement and Compliance.
7. SAFE Package.
8. Customs Procedures and Facilitation.
9. Conventions:
     - Revised Kyoto Convention
     - ATA System
   - Customs Convention on Containers.
10. Case Study: market access map.

Purposes of the sub-subject:

1. To know the role of the World Customs Organisation
2. To understand the key concepts (non-tariff barriers, customs valuation, transaction value, previous inspection, rules of origin, and import licences)
3. To know the Harmonised System and the various existing conventions.

Sample of the Sub-subject: World Customs Organisation (WCO):

Sub-Subject Description (World Customs Organisation):

The World Customs Organisation (WCO) is the sole intergovernmental body fully working on customs and international trade (imports and exports).

The 177 members of the World Customs Organisation represents 98% of the total foreign trade.

The World Customs Organisation (WCO) keeps the International Harmonised System products nomenclature and manages the technical aspects of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Agreements on Customs Valuation and Rules of Origin.

The World Customs Organisation works in the following fields:

1. Development of global standards of international trade
2. Simplification and harmonisation of customs procedures (imports and exports)
3. International Trade supply chain security
4. Facilitation of international trade
5. Enhancement of customs and accordance activities, anti-counterfeiting and piracy initiatives

The World Customs Organisation (WCO) has developed the Harmonised Commodity Description and Coding System (Harmonised System - “HS”), an international product nomenclature. 98 % of the international trade in products use the Harmonised System.

The European Union
The customs territories of Netherlands Antilles, Bermuda, Hong Kong, and Macau
Albania
Algeria
Andorra
Angola
Argentina
Armenia
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
the Bahamas
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
Benin
Bhutan
Bolivia
Botswana
Brazil
Brunei Darussalam
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada
Cape Verde
Central African Republic
Chile
People's Republic of China
Colombia
The Comoros
Congo, the Republic of the
Costa Rica
Ivory Coast
Croatia
Cuba
Cyprus
The Czech Republic
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Denmark
Ecuador
Egypt
Eritrea
Estonia
Ethiopia.

Fiji
Finland
Republic of Macedonia
France
Gabon
The Gambia
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Guatemala
Guinea
Guyana
Haiti
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Korea (Republic of)
Kuwait
the Kyrgyz Republic
Latvia
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Malta
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mexico
Moldova
Mongolia
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands.

New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
The Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russian Federation
Rwanda
Samoa
Sao Tome and Principe
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
Spain
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Swaziland
Sweden
Switzerland
Syria
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Timor-Leste
Togo
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
The United Kingdom
The United States of America
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe.

Countries not members of the World Customs Organisation: Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Dominica, Guyana, Equatorial Guinea, Somalia, North Korea, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino, Vatican City, Palau, Solomon Islands, Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, Nauru, Cook Islands, Niue and Palestinian Authority, Taiwan, Sahrawi Republic, Kosovo.