Improving customs declaration facilitation to boost international cooperation along the “Belt and Road”

On May 10th, as one of the most important meetings of the Third Silk Road Expo, the International Symposium on the Belt and Road Construction and Trade Facilitation organized by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and the People’s Government of Shaanxi Province was held in Xi’an.

This symposium was aimed at discussing the temporary customs declaration measures in countries and regions along the “Belt and Road” to simplify customs procedure, improve customs declaration facilitation, and promote exchanges and cooperation among the “Belt and Road” countries in trade, science and technology, culture and sports. On May 10th, as one of the most important meetings of the Third Silk Road Expo, the International Symposium on the Belt and Road Construction and Trade Facilitation organized by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and the People’s Government of Shaanxi was held in Xi’an.

Focusing on the ATA carnet system and the Belt and Road development content, the symposium discussed how to use the ATA carnet system and the Rules of Origin as well as the TIR system to improve customs declaration facilitation in countries and regions along the “Belt and Road”. More than 70 guests and experts from 35 countries were invited to participate in the meeting, including those from the ATA Carnet Council of International Chamber of Commerce World Chambers Federation (ICCWCF) and the Council of the Certificates of Origin of the ICCWCF. Representatives from the United States Chamber of Commerce, the Belgian Chamber of Commerce, the Chinese Customs Brokers Association, the Silk Road Chamber of International Commerce, the Sinotrans Co., Ltd., Nanjing University and other institutions made keynote presentations.

It was reported that up until now, more than 60 countries and regions have implemented the ATA carnet system and 75 countries and regions have accepted the ATA carnets, with a total value of goods passed through the ATA carnets exceeding USD12 billion.