Customs emphasizes need for U.S. ratifying revised Kyoto Convention

Customs emphasizes need for U.S. ratifying revised Kyoto Convention    A senior U.S. Customs and Border Protection official told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Thursday the United States should take a global leadership role by ratifying the revised International Convention on the Simplification and Harmonization of Customs Procedures.
   “I can assure the members of this committee that many businesses and governments are following our deliberations here today very closely,” testified Michael T. Schmitz, acting assistant commissioner for Customs' Office of International Affairs, at Thursday's hearing.
   “For American companies, the significance of U.S. accession is not necessarily the impact on customs procedures here in the United States, but rather the impact on customs procedures abroad and the predictability it will bring them as they export their products,” he said.
   Schmitz added: “Other governments are looking to the United States for leadership as they decide whether they should adhere to the revised customs convention (or Kyoto Convention) and be legally bound to apply customs standards and procedures that, again, are modernized, transparent, simple and predictable.”
   The revised Kyoto Convention, developed by the World Customs Organization, replaces the 1973 convention, which the United States acceded to in 1983. The WCO approved the revised Kyoto Convention in 1999, taking into account technology changes, increased trade and security concerns confronting today’s cross-border trade management.
   The revised Kyoto Convention is based on the following principles:
   * Standard and simplified customs procedures.
   * Improved customs controls.
   * Increased use of computer systems.
   * Partnerships between customs administrations and industry.
   Industry groups, such as the International Chamber of Commerce, International Federation of Brokers Associations, and International Express Couriers Conference, provided the WCO with input during the development of the revised Kyoto Convention.
   The revised Kyoto Convention will come into force after 40 parties to the 1973 convention become bound to it. So far, 32 countries adhere to the new convention.
   “As this number rapidly grows towards 40, it is even more critical that the U.S. become a party,” Schmitz said. “Upon entry into force, the WCO will establish a management committee to oversee implementation and its management. It is imperative that the United States be an active member of this management committee from the start so that we can help ensure that the convention is implemented in a manner that contributes to our economic growth and national security.”
   Schmitz said the United States is already compliant with the revised convention’s provisions. “It should be emphasized that accession to the protocol of amendment will require no change to current national legislation at this time,” he said.