In-person consultation meeting of TCRO's IWG moves feasibility study on CO interconnectivity framework into second phase

The WCO, with the support of the Customs Cooperation Fund of China (CCF/China), organized an in-person consultation meeting of the Informal Working Group (IWG) of the Technical Committee on Rules of Origin (TCRO). The meeting, hosted by the WCO Regional Training Centre in Shanghai, China, was attended by 30 participants from 10 Member administrations, including the participants of the IWG, representatives of five WCO regions and the representative of the EU-WCO Rules of Origin (RoO) Africa Programme. The purpose of the meeting was to finalise the first phase of the feasibility study on the Certificate of Origin (CO) Interconnectivity Framework, namely the Business Process Model (BPM) and the electronic CO dataset.

Gael Grooby, Acting Director of the Tariff and Trade Directorate, and Brendan O'Hearn, Deputy Director of the Procedures and Facilitation Sub-Directorate, WCO, welcomed the participants virtually and emphasised that the Interconnectivity Framework is based on the comprehensive Globally Networked Customs (GNC) methodology, which provides an opportunity for different subject matter experts in the area of origin and facilitation.

Mrs Ding Nan, Director of the Office of Rules of Origin, General Administration of China Customs, joined the Acting Director and Deputy Director in welcoming the participants. Mrs Ding shared that China Customs had rich experience in establishing multiple Electronic Origin Data Exchange System (EODES) and was pleased to contribute to the feasibility study based on the experience.

The meeting started with an update from the Secretariat on the progress of the feasibility study and presentations on the relevant WCO instruments and tools relevant to the Interconnectivity Framework, such as the GNC and the WCO Data Model. Participants visited the Shanghai Customs Clearance Centre to see how digitalisation enhances the efficiency of Customs work, thereby facilitating global trade.

The participants then reviewed and provided input to refine the draft components of the feasibility study on BPM and the e-CO dataset. Among other things, participants clarified the terminology and definition of authorities responsible for the transmission of e-CO data and the Declaration of Origin.

Participants from Madagascar, Mauritius and Nigeria shared their national experiences of the current operating environment, highlighting the needs, challenges, and opportunities they face in implementing interconnectivity for CO. The feasibility study will feed into the work of the EU-WCO RoO Africa Programme, in particular the support provided to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat and to Regional Economic Communities committed to the implementation of E-CO and interconnectivity frameworks.

The meeting launched the second phase of the feasibility study by discussing the technical specifications and system integration architecture. Participants supported the need to provide recommendations on technological solutions that can lead to global interoperability. Regarding the legal framework, participants discussed the legal enablers and requirements for e-CO data exchange.

Concluding the meeting, the way forward relating to finalizing the further development and endorsement processes of the feasibility study by the WCO working bodies was discussed. Participants highlighted the importance of involving the relevant stakeholders in the future to ensure the efficient implementation of the CO interconnectivity framework.