Sub-Committee on Customs Procedures

The APEC Sub-Committee on Customs Procedures (SCCP), which reports to the Committee on Trade and Investment (CTI), was established in 1994 as a forum to fulfil the commitments of APEC Leaders and Ministers relating to customs matters. The SCCP’s goals are focused on trade facilitation, trade security and related enforcement matters, considering the responsibility of each customs administration for the effective implementation of legitimate border measures. The goals, structure and administration of the SCCP are laid out in its Terms of Reference.

According to the Strategic Plan 2022-2025, the SCCP’s vision is to be an incubator for innovation and technology-led customs. The SCCP will lead trade facilitation and trade security measures that promote inclusive growth and create more connected, secure, and resilient global supply chains across the APEC region. For the referred period, the SCCP has established 5 strategic priorities to move forward its work:

1. Contributing to economies’ responses to and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic
Objectives:

• Successful implementation of APEC-led COVID-19 trade facilitation initiatives
• Facilitation of COVID-19 medical supplies and essential goods, including COVID-19 vaccines. across borders
• Cooperation with other agencies within and outside of APEC to boost economic recovery.

2. Accelerating implementation of the WTO TFA
Objectives:

• Driving initiatives to support APEC economies to implement customs elements of the WTO TFA

3. Enhancing supply chain predictability and connectivity in the APEC region
Objectives:

• Harmonization of customs procedures between APEC economies to facilitate trade and improve predictability of supply chains
• Encouraging paperless trade and digitalization of customs processes to connect, streamline and modernize global supply chains

4. Exploring the use of new technology and innovative solutions to secure supply chains
Objectives:

• Adopting smart and innovative working methods and cooperation models, including use of technology, to improve efficiency of border management
• Strengthening supply chain security and resilience through technological innovations

5. Achieving the above priorities while promoting inclusion and fostering capacity building in the international trading environment
Objectives: 

• Enabling a more inclusive customs environment that supports access to trade for all by addressing barriers that limit inclusion and equality in international trade
• Fostering targeted capacity building, sharing solutions and exchanging best practices on trade facilitation and development of technology

The SCCP also addresses customs chokepoints or bottlenecks as listed in the APEC Supply Chain Connectivity Framework Action Plan Phase II (SCFAP II 2017-2022), and in alignment with the World Trade Organization (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) and the Boracay Action Agenda to Globalize MSMEs in the Asia Pacific Region.  

These are examples of initiatives and outcomes the SCCP has carried over the past 20 years:

• Single Window Strategic Plan (2007)
• Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Enforcement Strategies (2006)
• APEC Guidelines for Customs Border Enforcement, Counterfeiting and Piracy endorsed to strengthen IPR enforcement at borders
• Action Plan on the Development of Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Programs
• AEO Compendium (2010) for all APEC Economies to help members establish AEO programs and mutual recognition

The SCCP’s efforts over the past two decades have contributed greatly to the two-time 5 percent reductions of APEC trade transaction costs and have played a fundamental role in the 10 percent improvement in supply chain performance among APEC economies in 2015. These efforts had contributed to the development of a fair, transparent and dynamic economic and trading environment in the Asia-Pacific region.

The SCCP has three guests (with 3-year terms) that participate at its official meetings:

• Colombia
• World Customs Organization (WCO)
• Oceania Customs Organization (OCO)

Last page update: October 2022

Contacts

Current Activities

The SCCP holds two annual plenary meetings on the margins of the first and third Senior Officials’ Meetings (SOM1 and SOM3) and an APEC Customs – Business Dialogue on the margins of SOM3 each year, organized by the APEC host economy.

This year, chaired by Thailand the first SCCP Plenary Meeting (SCCP1) was held virtually on 15-17 February and the second SCCP Plenary Meeting (SCCP2) took place on 23-25 August in Chiang Mai Thailand. The APEC Customs Business Dialogue on “Customs and Green Economy: Enhancing Economic Development and Environmental Sustainability” was held on 23 August in Chiang Mai Thailand.  

Upcoming Events 2022

• First Sub-Committee on Customs Procedures 2023: Feb/March 2023 (date TBD)

Key Deliverables

• Best Practices Guidelines on Customs Control for COVID-19 Related Goods (2022)  
• Guidelines for Paperless Trade (2021)
• “Best Practice Guidelines for APEC Customs Administrations to Facilitate the Distribution of COVID-19 Vaccines and Related Goods” (2021)
• Updated APEC Customs Transit Guidelines (2019)
• Customs Strategic Framework on Building Connectivity: 3M plus 3S Initiative (2019)
• APEC SCCP Compendium for Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Enforcement (2019)

Relevant Documents: