The Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific cooperated on research for an electronic trade data exchange. The partnership falls under the UN Framework Agreement on Facilitating Cross-border Paperless Trade in Asia and the Pacific (CPTA). This UN treaty aims to expedite the implementation of digital trade facilitation measures for trade and development between ESCAP and the Philippine Bureau of Customs.
During the joint consultative session, the National Trade Facilitation Champions, a group of experienced customs officers, gave their substantial ideas on the feasibility study of the electronic exchange of trade-related data and documents in the Philippines.
The research thoroughly examines the technological capabilities, regulatory frameworks, and operational requirements for implementing electronic trade data exchange. It also seeks to identify potential challenges and risks and develop effective mitigation strategies.
This initiative will contribute to the ease of doing business in the country and BOC’s goal of digitalizing paperless trade.
Last March 2022, the BOC and UNESCAP released a report assessing the country’s readiness for cross-border paperless trade, including international trade, based on electronic data and documentation. For more info on the said report, please click here. AGPM