UK supports the WCO trade facilitation efforts with £ 2.1 million

Building on the success of previous years and recognizing the importance of facilitating trade to tackle COVID-19, the United Kingdom (UK) announced today a three year extension of its partnership between Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) with the World Customs Organization (WCO) and UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) on trade facilitation capacity building.

The news of the UK allocating £ 2,145,000 for WCO efforts to directly support developing countries and middle income countries under ‘Accelerate Trade Facilitation’ was announced by Minister Amanda Milling, Minister for Asia and the Middle East, during a ceremony bringing together the WCO Secretary-General with the UNCTAD Secretary-General and HMRC Director-General for Borders and Trade.

HMRC Director-General for Borders and Trade Katherine Green, said “HMRC is a proud member of the WCO and the global customs family and we recognize the value of efficient customs in promoting growth and prosperity. That is why it is important for us to continue to support partners around the world in modernizing Customs and implementing the TFA. The WCO’s unique Customs-to-Customs expertise and ability to draw from a network of accredited experts from within the global Customs community, including from Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs and UK Border Force, will continue to play a vital role in this unique collaboration.”