Customs brokers facilitate trade with legal compliance: IFCBA

“Customs brokers play a key role in securing borders for the seamless movement of supply chains and facilitating trade with legal compliance at the national level,” says Shankar Shinde, Chairman, International Federation of Customs Brokers Associations (IFCBA) during a meet held at the World Customs Organization (WCO) headquarters in Brussels on June 3-4 wherein members from 12 countries with 40 delegates gathered.  The meeting underscored the collaborative spirit and mutual goals shared by both organizations.  “This collaboration with the WCO is crucial for creating a transparent, reliable, and trust-based environment in the ecosystem. It builds confidence through better understanding and supports the significant role played by the WCO in partnering with the IFCBA at the international level,” Shinde added.

WCO Secretary General Ian Saunders welcomed the representatives, emphasizing the WCO’s theme for the year, “Customs Engaging Traditional and New Partners With Purpose.” As a longstanding partner of the WCO, the IFCBA brings fresh insights and expertise on diverse topics, including the review of the Harmonized System of Tariff Classification, developments in Rules of Origin, the challenges posed by E-Commerce, initiatives for Green Customs, and strategies for Business Resilience. Delegates engaged in fruitful discussions with WCO subject matter experts on each of these critical subjects. Highlighting the IFCBA’s active participation in the WCO Private Sector Consultative Group (PSCG), PSCG Chair Jaime King from Mexico presented the group’s ongoing work and initiatives. A major topic of interest among customs brokers globally is education, focusing on enhancing the knowledge base of IFCBA members and exploring opportunities for global certification. This meeting provided a platform for in-depth discussions with representatives from the WCO Academy regarding potential educational collaborations.