TRICK Partner ADM Teams Up with World Customs Organization (WCO) Permanent Technical Committee
From October 24 to 26, the 241st/242nd Sessions of the World Customs Organization (WCO) Permanent Technical Committee (PTC) were held in Brussels. One of the topics on the agenda was technology and digitization in Customs. The PTC was invited to discuss key topics and to develop a concept paper on the use of blockchain by Customs and the role of Customs in a blockchain-enabled environment.
The paper will serve as a reference guide for Customs administrations when considering adopting BC technology by helping to identify the use case, other stakeholders potentially involved in BC and their roles, the governance model (including data governance), processes and services implemented on top of the blockchain solution, data clusters, and the most suitable blockchain technology. For each use case identified, it will be possible to assess the added value of blockchain and the potential benefits to justify the cost and determine whether blockchain is urgently required.
During the PTC meeting, the potential benefits of blockchain functionality for cross-border trade and digitalization of procedures were considered, as well as the barriers to the adoption of this technology. In addition, the evolution of the role of Customs Authorities with the adoption of blockchain technology was discussed, and in line with the strategic principles established in the WCO Strategic Plan, the influence of blockchain on other tools and instruments adopted by the WCO (such as the Window Compendium, Globally Networked Customs (GNC), Coordinated Border Management (CBM), the WCO Data Model, and the E-Commerce Framework of Standards) was analyzed. Reconnecting with the theme, the Italian delegation presented the TRICK Project as an example of the use of blockchain by Customs, finalized to ensure transparent, coherent, and comprehensive data governance.
The concept paper will be developed during the intersession and then submitted to the PTC at its meeting in April 2024 for its consideration.
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