01 April 2022
ROLE OF ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES IN TRADE FACILITATION
On 29 March, the WTO and WCO launched their joint publication titled ‘The role of advanced technologies in cross-border trade: A customs perspective’, which provides the current state of play and sheds light on the opportunities and challenges Customs face when deploying these technologies.
01 April 2022
WISE PERSONS GROUP ON THE FUTURE OF EU CUSTOMS PUBLISHES FINAL REPORT
On 31 March, the Wise Persons Group published its final report on the future of the EU Customs Union. The Group concludes that EU Customs needs an urgent structural change which, building on the reforms of the last decade, will take Customs to the next level and prepare them to address modern challenges, such as new trade models and growing trade volumes, technological developments, the green transition, the new geopolitical context and security risks.
01 April 2022
EC SEEKS TO STEP UP FIGHT AGAINST CYBERCRIME AT UN LEVEL
On 29 March, the European Commission proposed a negotiating mandate enabling the EU to take part in negotiations for a new international convention on countering the use of information and communications technologies for criminal purposes.
01 April 2022
AUTOMATIC NOMINATION OF IMPORT CARGO FOR SCHIPHOL
Starting 1 April, Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) introduces new measures in the digitalisation of cargo processing on the import side through automatic nomination, a process through which shipment data will become available pre-arrival for economic operators.
01 April 2022
TRAN COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS ON REFUEL EU AVIATION
The European Parliament’s Transport and Tourism (TRAN) Committee published the amendments tabled by MEPs on the ReFuelEU Aviation proposal. Overall, MEPs tabled amendments underlining the need to reach climate goals as well as ensure air connectivity within the EU and avoid dependency from third country stakeholders.
01 April 2022
AFRICA AND SOUTH KOREA INVESTIGATE ON ALLEGED PRICE FIXING BY SHIPPING LINES
Over the last week, the South Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) and the COMESA Competition Commission (CCC, representing 21 African member states) started investigating ocean carriers for allegedly coordinating in raising freight charges.
01 April 2022
US INITIATIVE TO EASE SUPPLY CHAIN CONGESTION
On 15 March, the Biden administration and U.S. Department of Transportation launched a pilot program to have ocean carriers, ports, and retailers share data with each other to improve the flow of goods, speed up delivery times and ease supply chain congestion. The initiative is called Freight Logistics Optimization Works (FLOW) and includes eighteen participants, including port authorities, warehousing, and logistics companies.
01 April 2022
US SENATE PASSES OCEAN SHIPPING ACT REFORM
On 31 March, the U.S. Senate passed the formal vote on the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 (OSRA) which was introduced in February by Senators Amy Klobuchar (Democrat-Minnesota) John Thune (Republican-South Dakota), and was approved by the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation last week. The Senate is now ready for negotiations with the House of Representatives to find a compromise to be signed by the US President.
25 March 2022
CLECAT Newsletter 2022/12
25 March 2022
PROVISIONAL AGREEMENT ON DIGITAL MARKETS ACT
On 24 March, the European Parliament and Council negotiators provisionally agreed on the Digital Markets Act (DMA), containing new EU rules to limit the market power of big online platforms. The DMA will blacklist certain practices used by large platforms acting as “gatekeepers” and enable the Commission to carry out market investigations and sanction non-compliant behaviour.