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| Dear International Trade Community Member: The Caribbean Association of Customs Brokers (CACUB) will be holding its 1st Annual Conference October 28-30, 2003 at the Hilton Trinidad and Conference Centre. The theme of this year’s Conference is – THE NEW CUSTOMS ENVIRONMENT – “Adapting and meeting the challenges”. Regional customs administrations have been invited to attend and participate and we hope they will accept the invitation. There is still a big misconception about customs globally. Customs agencies do not have the political power to impose rules. They carry them out. This means that if the international trade community wants to change the way customs agencies operate, then it (the international trade community) must lobby the political interests in charge. Customs inefficiency imposes a significant tax, hidden but very real, on consumers and traders – taxes whose “revenues” are not realised by government, but rather comprise a dead waste to the economy. It is estimated that border formalities, such as customs clearance procedures, increase the value of goods by 7 to 10 percent. Understanding the competitive costs associated with tolerance of inefficient customs administrations, trade and finance ministers should be strong internal advocates for customs improvement. Under the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME), which includes a – ‘Customs Union’, the Caricom Customs Vision 20/20 must envision the following customs relationship with the business community: “ To establish a close relationship with the business community for the mutual benefit of customs control, revenue collection and facilitation of legitimate trade.” Although customs plays an important role in ensuring trade facilitation and in enhancing a business friendly environment, much of this work can only be effectively implemented through a partnership with the business community. Only through such partnerships can the twin goals of customs control in the collection of government revenue and trade facilitation be adequately achieved. We look forward to your attendance and participation as we work towards leaving the Conference with the formation of a “Business Alliance for Customs Modernisation”. |
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