Building the Customs Agency of the Future

Customs is an industry defined by change; it must work toward improving trade facilitation and protection. Preparing for the future means adopting new approaches and Customs solutions that transform delivery.

The right mix of Customs technology and people can shape next-generation Customs agencies. Three core components will shape and equip next generation Customs agencies:

· Intelligent operating models

· Introducing new technologies

· Competent staffing

Customs agency of the future must analyze and provide up-to-date and deep information that can be easily analyzed. Customs officers will understand how traders and criminals operate. Agencies of the future will continuously review and respond to developments in the trading environment.

They will be equipped to share information electronically, automatically, securely, systematically and in real time. By sharing this information, Customs officers can work in new, more effective ways.

Collaborative border management will enable trade, improve security and reduce costs for both government and trade. The Customs agency of the future will be able to deliver the right capabilities, in the right place at the right time.

The staffing model must be flexible with skilled people working in different locations at different times. Staff will also be increasingly mobile in the roles they fulfill, changing as necessary to deliver competencies on demand.

To support this new staffing approach, the agency of the future will need world-class knowledge management. The workforce will need in-depth Customs knowledge, but also “soft” skills, such as emotional intelligence, collaboration skills and leadership, which can be applied to various roles and responsibilities.

Becoming an agency of the future is no longer just a goal – it’s an imperative. The right mix of modernization and improvement approaches will allow agencies to achieve high performance long into the future.

Exercise 6. A nswer the following questions:

How can the Customs agencies successfully deliver in the future Customs environment?

What capabilities must the organization add to be an effective agency?

How can agencies develop capabilities through new staffing approaches?

Exercise 7. Read the text once more for certain true / false information.

 

1. Customs officers need collaboration and leadership skills.

2. Sharing information is not imperative for the work of a Customs officer.

3. Customs officers should be forward-looking.

4. The staff should not prefer to work in a team.

Exercise 8. In pairs, translate into English the following word-combinations. Learn them by heart.

использовать новые подходы; содействие торговле; обеспечивать доставку; формировать агентство; основные компоненты; современная информация; реагировать на события; обмениваться информацией в электронном виде; работать эффективно; координированное управление границами; повысить безопасность; сократить расходы; обеспечивать необходимые условия; квалифицированные сотрудники; новая подход к отбору кадров; навыки совместной работы; проявлять при необходимости компетентность.

Exercise 9. Write out the key-words and draw up a plan / a short summary on the topic “Customs agencies of the future”. Start with:

1. Core components of the Customs agency.

2. Responsibilities of the Customs officers.

...............etc.

Exercise 10. Use the following word-combinations in the sentences of your own:

to improve trade facilitation, core components, provide up-to-date and deep information, improve security, staffing approach, various roles, deliver competencies.

Exercise 11. Read only the title of Text 2. Predict and write down at least five key words which you expect to see in the text.

Exercise 12. Skim the text quickly (maximum one minute), looking for key words in the text. Now write down the main theme of the text.

Text 2

The Customs of the Future

In the future, any physical inspection of cross-border goods will only affect a small minority of consignments. Their selection will be based on risk analysis techniques and information from legitimate traders. Customs administrations will have to re-engineer their business processes to become more efficient and effective and to have proper regard to the impact on the trading community. As revenue collection becomes more effective the countries’ income will increase enabling them to reduce duty rates.

The principal role of Customs administrations will change from revenue collection to that of monitoring compliance with international trade agreements, the enforcement of transnational crime, and the efficient collection of accurate information about international trade.

Exercise 13. Match the beginning and ending of the following sentences.

 

1. In the future, any physical inspection… 2. Customs control… 3. Revenue collection… 4. Countries… 5. The principal role of Customs… 6. Customs administrations…

a) …will be based on risk analysis techniques b) …will re-engineer their business processes. c) ….will become more effective. d) …will affect a small minority of consignments. e) …will reduce duty rates. f) …will change from revenue collection to collection of information about international trade.

 

Exercise 14. As you read Text 3, focus on four top priorities in the work of Customs.

 

Text 3

Customs Role and Priorities in the 21^st Century

It is difficult to predict the future role of any institution, and there is no one universally applicable response to anticipated trends in Customs. Nevertheless, every country will respond in ways that are best suited to its needs, operating environment, national priorities, and cultural heritage.

However, some general issues or themes are emerging that suggest the future role and priorities of Customs.

First, the revenue mobilization and control functions of Customs are likely to remain substantial.

Second, in all countries, Customs will continue to collect trade data for statistical and regulatory purposes.

Third, Customs will continue to be responsible for effective and efficient border management to facilitate trade. It is a major contributor to the international competitiveness of nations. As such, harmonizing, simplifying, and effectively coordinating all national border management requirements and commitments will remain priority responsibilities of Customs.

Fourth, governments will require that Customs administrations take on a larger role in ensuring national security and law enforcement.

To that effect, Customs administrations are likely to institute a range of changes to systems, procedures, and even administrative responsibilities to increase confidence in the level of control exercised over both imports and exports.

All regulatory information is likely to be exchanged electronically, and decisions on treatment of imports and exports will be made on a risk assessment basis. Customs will increasingly rely on the intensive use of modern information technology to provide transmission of data to all interested members of the trading community.

In the future, most Customs administrations will rely on electronic submission of manifests before cargo arrival, on direct trader input of import and export declarations, and on electronic payment of duties and taxes. This will speed up the granting of regulatory permissions and enable the collection of statistics.

Many countries are already members of regional groups, a trend that might accelerate in coming years. Such regional groups might promote harmonization and simplification of Customs procedures in accordance with international best practice standards.

Border Management

The keen interest of many developing countries in harmonizing, streamlining, and simplifying border management systems and procedures has led to such initiatives as:

• Coordinated border management. This can include information sharing, co-located facilities, close interagency cooperation and the delegation of administrative authority.
• One stop border posts. Neighboring countries coordinate import, export, and transit processes, so that traders need not duplicate regulatory formalities on both sides of a border.
• Single window systems. Traders can submit all import, export and transit information required by regulatory agencies at one time – through a single electronic gateway – rather than submit essentially the same information repeatedly to various government entities.

Exercise 15. Explain the meaning of the following notions:

Coordinated border management means…

One stop border posts means…

Single window system means…

Use the following websites as a help:

http://www.worldCustomsjournal.org/media/wcj/-2010/1/Kieck.pdf

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single-window_system

Exercise 16. Ask and answer the questions on pairs.

1. Can you forecast trends in the work of Customs agencies of the future?

2. What functions of the Customs administrations will remain constant?

3. What are interconnections between border management and trade facilitation?

4. What key factors will enable Customs administrations to facilitate global trade?

5. What new border management systems maximize the harmonization of border control functions?

Exercise 17. Say what you have learned from the texts about:

- Customs agencies in future;

- mission of the Customs Service for the society;

- the flexibility of the staff.

 

Exercise 18. Class discussion. How effective do you think Customs agencies work? Use the following multiple survey to answer your partners’ questions.

Multiple Survey

 

Questions	1	2	3	4
Person A
Person B
Person C
Person D

 

Summary of the opinions expressed _____________________________________.

 

Exercise 19. Express your attitude to the phrase:

“The right mix of modernization will allow agencies to achieve high performance long into the future”.

Exercise 20. Write a review on one of the topics:

- improvement in the performance of the Customs Service;

- the Customs of the future;

- introduction of new technology.

Exercise 21. Translate the following text into English. Use the following phrases: adoption of the Code; application of modern information technology; Customs clearance; assign a part to; public domain network; remote release of goods; the main component; to improve Customs administration; to create an effective system; simultaneous simplification of Customs procedures; acceleration of Customs operations.