WCO Cross-Border E-Commerce Conference produces “Beijing Declaration”

Participants at the First Global Cross-Border E-Commerce Conference, which was co-hosted by the World Customs Organization (WCO) and the General Administration of China Customs (GACC) on 9-10 February, agreed to adopt a “Beijing Declaration”.

In a statement issued yesterday (12 February), the WCO said that Beijing Declaration summarized the discussions that took place at the conference and “sets out a vision for boosting sound, secure, balanced and sustainable development of cross-border e-commerce”.

According to the WCO, “over 100 Ministers, Vice-Ministers, Directors General/Deputy Directors General of Customs administrations, Tax authorities and relevant government agencies, as well as CEOs of e-commerce operators, postal operators, express service providers and other business entities” spoke at the event.

The WCO commented: “The Conference emphasized the need for an international standard, and supported the expeditious development of the WCO Framework of Standards on Cross-Border
E-Commerce, the first guiding document on how the world Customs community and relevant border agencies can better regulate and provide enhanced facilitation to cross-border e-commerce.”

The WCO added that the Global Cross-border E-Commerce Conference is now expected to be held every two years in different regions.