With growth slowing and families struggling to make ends meet, it is an appalling injustice when money ends up in the hands of criminals – money that could be spent on much-needed global growth and development” // IAN SAUNDERS Ian Saunders took office as secretary general of the World Customs Organization in January 2024. He previously worked as deputy assistant secretary for the Western Hemisphere at the US Department of Commerce and spent most of his career with US Customs and Border Protection, where he held several senior positions including assistant commis- sioner for international affairs, deputy assistant commissioner for international affairs and acting deputy executive assistant commissioner for operations support, as well as director of international policy and programmes and director of international training and assistance.
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trade. As G20 leaders gather in Johannes- burg, the WCO urges them to consider how to support the mission of customs to protect society, enhance trade and ensure fair collection of revenue, and to reflect on how to do this both through local action and through international support via the WCO. To remain agile and responsive to emerging trends and public expectations, customs needs the right tools: sound and proven practices, the most supportive technology and information, and the broadest network of positively motivated partners. This is not beyond reach, but at a time of accelerating change, increasing demand and high expectations, action to mobilise and empower customs is more urgent than ever. Governments’ attention to and invest- ment in their customs administrations are critical ingredients. Customs’ commit- ment to implementing best practices and using proven tools identified by the WCO is equally fundamental. Stakeholders’ coop- eration and sense of shared responsibility are indispensable, as the challenges of effi- ciency and security are greater than any one actor can address alone. Safe and secure global trade is built on resilient supply chains. It is also built on effective and agile customs. My hope is that the G20 can drive the development of greater capacity and resilience in customs, in partnership with the WCO, to support the better lives and livelihoods so many seek through trade.
also demands that the global community resets the collective ambition and recogni- tion of customs. SAFE FRAMEWORK 2025 The WCO SAFE Framework of Standards to Secure and Facilitate Global Trade pro- tects supply chains from disruption by strengthening the relationships between customs, businesses and partner govern- ment agencies. It expressly recommends deploying technology to support inspec- tion and cargo integrity, and has guided efforts to balance the imperatives of supply chain security and facilitation of legitimate trade in response to evolving conditions. As the 20th anniversary of the SAFE Framework approached, the WCO updated it to address sustainability and enable more private sector engagement while continuing to articulate standards to which all customs administrations should aspire. Through its commitment to the SAFE Framework, the WCO led a critical set of considerations that support customs’ ability to administer cross-border trade in a time of increasing complexity and rising demands for efficiency, while ensur- ing safety and the appropriate collection of revenues. The cooperative approaches at the core of the SAFE Framework have been constant, but their scope and appli- cation have evolved, mobilising a wider range of partners, attention and resources to help manage international trade at bor- ders effectively.
the timely movement of goods. Digital solutions are a necessity, rather than an option, for ensuring that customs is not a barrier to the efficient and effective deliv- ery of goods worldwide. Customs administrations are vital in enabling digital trade by embracing inno- vation and cutting-edge technology. As cross-border e-commerce continues to grow, efficient and secure customs pro- cesses are essential. The WCO’s focus on innovation and developing the frame- work to support e-commerce, as well as the examination of digital tools such as data analytics, blockchain and automated risk management systems, positions customs to improve transparency, reduce delays and lower trade costs. Realising the poten- tial, however, often entails investments to make available the tools on which effective digitalisation depends, a fact that warrants discussion in circles beyond customs. Supported in this way, digital trade not only boosts economic growth and com- petitiveness; it also strengthens trust among businesses, consumers and gov- ernments in the global trading system. These are conditions worth creating and maintaining, so we can address today’s trade challenges as well as those we can expect in coming years. THE WCO AND THE G20 The WCO stands ready to partner with the G20 to advance the goals of sustainability, security and solidarity in international
RESPONDING TO SOCIETY – TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION
“Customs administrations are vital in enabling digital trade by embracing innovation and cutting-edge technology”
The WCO brings customs administrations together to develop innovative solutions to global issues. With the rapid advance of technologies, growth in digital trade requires ongoing assessment and develop- ment of tools and standards to facilitate
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