News
The sixth Japan-EU Joint Customs Cooperation Committee (JCCC) was held in Tokyo last week. The JCCC oversees the implementation of the Agreement between the Government of Japan and the European Union on Cooperation and Mutual Administrative Assistance in Customs Matters.
Recognizing that the cooperation between the two has been strengthened through regular dialogue, Japan and the European Union (EU) discussed customs matters extensively, and exchanged views on the development of bilateral customs cooperation.
The main outcomes of the meeting are as follows:
- The solid implementation of mutual recognition of Authorized Economic Operators (AEO) was welcomed in the meeting. Both sides confirmed the need to continue to further improve the framework of mutual recognition, in particular delivering further benefits of mutual recognition and automating the information exchange on AEO between Japan and the EU.
- With regard to cargo risk assessment based on advance data filing rules, both sides agreed to study how these supply chain security measures could be better tailored to provide more facilitation to the secure and legitimate trade. In order to cope with challenges regarding the postal goods clearance, experts will continue to share good practices for the effective and efficient risk-based controls of these goods. They will explore possible collaboration in the area of risk management.
- Both sides welcomed the adoption of the Ministerial Decision on the WTO Agreement on Trade Facilitation at the 9th Ministerial Conference in Bali, Indonesia in December 2013. Recognizing the central role of Customs in the implementation of this Agreement, both sides stressed the importance of its early entry into force and full implementation. Both sides will also cooperate, including through the World Customs Organization, on providing assistance and support for capacity building to developing countries for the implementation of the Agreement.
It was confirmed that the next JCCC will be hosted by the EU.
