UNCTAD and IATA to Modernize Data Exchange Needed for Customs Clearance

IATA and UNCTAD have extended their collaboration to facilitate international trade, particularly e-commerce.

The two organizations have a long history of working together, and successfully integrated air cargo messaging standards (Cargo-XML) into UNCTAD's automated customs management system, ASYCUDAWorld.

The next stage of the collaboration will focus on enabling ASYCUDAWorld to manage e-commerce shipments more efficiently. It will include adding a risk assessment for mail shipments and facilitating access to the IATA enhanced partner identification and connectivity (EPIC) platform.

This will enable customs authorities to share advance cargo/mail information requirements across the digitized supply chain (airlines, freight forwarders, ground handlers and third-party messaging service providers).

The collaboration will also include the potential exchange of additional operational electronic information such as air cargo rules, flight schedules and others that can assist customs officials in their risk assessments.

"UNCTAD and IATA are working together to support the economic opportunities of e-commerce by modernizing the data exchange needed for customs clearance," said Nick Careen, IATA's Senior Vice President for Operations, Safety and Security. "Global standards enable accurate information and effective risk-assessments. This in turn promotes stronger compliance and will contribute to a safe supply chain, which should give the authorities the confidence to modernize processes."

Approximately 100 countries currently deploy the latest version of ASYCUDAWorld.

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