The fourth Working Group (WG) of the Master Trainer Programme (MTP) on Customs Valuation (CV) and HS Classification (HS) for the Pacific Islands was held at the World Customs Organization (WCO) Asia Pacific Regional Training Center in Suva, Fiji, from 12 to 16 June 2023. At the session, representatives of the Australian Border Force and New Zealand Customs Service explained their capacity building activities for the Pacific Islands, which motivated members to contribute to regional capacity building activities.
Australia, as a close neighbour, has a long history as a major trade and investment partner with many Pacific Island countries. While New Zealand is often the first export market for Australian exporters, Pacific markets are a logical next step for Australian businesses that can provide products and services in demand in the Pacific. Many countries in region are our fellow members of the the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations Plus (PACER Plus) – a development-centred free trade agreement between the Forum Island Countries and Australia and New Zealand.
According to DFAT, Fiji (8%) and New Caledonia (6%) are Australia’s next most significant Pacific trading partners, with the remaining 12 Pacific Island countries accounting for just 6% of Australia’s total trade with Pacific Island countries.
Twenty-two WG members for CV and HS from six WCO Members, namely, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Timor-Leste, Tonga and Vanuatu, participated in the working group activity.
The objective of the MTP is to establish more self-sustainable training capacity in key Customs work areas in the participating regions by developing a pool of well-qualified trainers and training materials/programmes that meet regional needs. To this end, the MTP trains the same nominated participants (WG members) from respective Customs Administrations through 5 WGs and intersessional activities for 2-3 years.
WCO experts and Japan Customs experts also greatly assisted WG members in developing training materials. In addition, they conducted lectures on substantive matters on CV/HS and training methods.
The session was held under the auspices of the WCO/JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) Joint Project and with the host of the WCO Asia Pacific Regional Training Center (RTC) located in Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS).
At the end of WG4, WG members revised their work plan towards the final working group activity, WG5, expected to hold in early 2024. Their journey continues inter-sessionally.
Australia currently represents approximately 18% of the total merchandise trade (imports plus exports) of Pacific Island countries. According to DFAT this share has declined over the past decade as other trading partners, notably China, have increased their trade with Pacific Island countries.
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