U.S. joins Kyoto Convention

U.S. joins Kyoto Convention    The International Convention on Simplification and Harmonization of Customs Procedures will go into effect on Feb. 3 after the United States became the 41st country to sign what is commonly referred to as the revised Kyoto Convention, the World Customs Organization said.
   Acting Commissioner for U.S. Customs and Border Protection Deborah Spero signed the treaty in Brussels last week during a meeting of the WCO’s Policy Commission after the Senate recently ratified it.
   India recently became the 40th country to accede to the Kyoto amendment, which required 40 signatories to enter into force.
   The United States has been criticized for making cargo security a top priority and pushing other countries to adopt common trade facilitation and global security standards through a more informal process that doesn’t require treaty ratification, while failing to support a revised Kyoto Convention designed to accomplish many of the same goals.
   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.
The framework is designed to provide consistent, predictable rules so that traders can more efficiently clear their goods, in addition to strengthening security throughout the supply chain.