The 6th Meeting of the WCO Working Group on the Comprehensive Review of the Revised Kyoto Convention (WGRKC) was held at WCO Headquarters in Brussels from 14 to 18 October 2019.
Mr. Ricardo Treviño Chapa, WCO Deputy Secretary General, delivered opening remarks to delegates. Noting that the 6th Meeting was the second attendance for external stakeholders, Mr. Treviño added that it was the first of its kind where they were invited for the whole duration of the meeting following a decision by the RKC Management Committee in June 2019. It is also the first time a five-day meeting of the WGRKC was held.
Mr. Treviño Chapa updated the Working Group about Brazil’s accession to the Revised Kyoto Convention, having deposited its instrument of accession to the RKC and thus becoming the 120th Contracting Party.
The three sub-groups extensively discussed proposals concerning the Body of the Convention, the General Annex, and the Specific Annexes of the RKC. Some of the proposals which generated more interest included those relating to Periodic Update Mechanism, Electronic Declarations, Processing of Goods, Reporting, Monitoring and Evaluation (RME), Data Issues, Advance Cargo Information, Authorized Economic Operators, Customs’ Role in Security, Advance Rulings, Warehouses, Free Zones, API/PNR on passengers, Travellers, Rules of Origin, Coordinated Border Management, Single Window, and the Time Release Study.
The Sub-groups agreed to further develop certain proposals as joint proposals e.g., Express/Expedited Shipments, Temporary Admission, Voluntary Disclosure without Penalty, Free Zones, Authorized Economic Operators, Single Window, Rules of Origin and Electronic Declarations, while proposals relating to Postal Traffic, Means of Transport for Commercial Use, Customs Control, Post Clearance Audit, Advance Ruling and Electronic Payment of Duties are expected to be developed further by the respective proponents. On the last day of the Meeting, the Sub-groups reported to the WGRKC the outcomes of these discussions.
The progress made by the WGRKC will be reported to the RKC Management Committee meeting on 18 to 20 November 2019.
25/10/2019