Study visit to WCO Headquarters by the SACU Secretariat and SACU Member States

A study visit for representatives of SACU and its Member States to the World Customs Organization Headquarters was organised from 13 to 22 March 2023, to coincide with the 71st Harmonized System Committee (HSC). Organised under the framework of the EU-WCO HS-Africa Programme, it was a follow up to consultations and work plans established at the national and regional level as part of the ongoing support to SACU and its Member States that is provided under the HS Africa Programme, funded by the European Union.

The study visit brought together tariff experts from all five SACU Member States, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia and South Africa, as well as a representative from the SACU Secretariat. During the visit, the officials had an opportunity to learn, exchange, network, and enhance their knowledge and abilities to efficiently navigate the HS by getting a hands-on experience on the workings of the 71st HSC.

To improve the Member States collaboration on tariff classification and expand their capabilities in establishing a regional advance ruling system, the SACU experts visited the EU DG TAXUD where they had a workshop to exchange on best practices and mechanisms that support an effective binding tariff information at national and Customs Union level. The experts deliberated with their peers from the EU on practices that ensure a sound HS migration framework with time bound processes of submission of proposals, adoption and implementation of HS Amendments.

The outcomes of this study visit are intended to improve and strengthen tariff classification work and advance rulings at national level for all the SACU Member States. It is also expected to create greater collaboration in the region and further encourage SACU Member States to participate more in the future meetings of the HS Committee, and as a region, continue to timely migrate their Common External Tariff (CET) to new versions of the HS.

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