The World Trade Organization (WTO) and the World Customs Organization (WCO) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 21 January 2025 to enhance cooperation and collaboration on customs-related matters. The MoU was signed by Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and WCO Secretary General Ian Saunders on the sidelines of the annual World Economic Forum in Davos.
Under the MoU, the two organisations agree to identify opportunities to collaborate on customs-related topics, and coordinate their participation, in external fora. They also agree to collaborate on the delivery of technical assistance and capacity building in areas of common interest, including the implementation of grants provided through the Trade Facilitation Agreement Facility to support members in the implementation of the WTO’s Trade Facilitation Agreement.
In addition, the two organisations will share information in areas of common interest and cooperate on special challenges and data analytics with regards to the development of the Harmonised System (HS) tracker and tariff classification. They will also align work on the transposition of the HS, including through the prompt sharing of HS amendments by the WCO’s HS Committee. In addition, they will collaborate and share information regarding projects and activities put in place to combat illicit trade, including as regards the enforcement of intellectual property rights.
For more information, please see here.