At A Glance
- The Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) have signed an agreement to strengthen trade policy in the country.<br>The agreement focuses on the development and strengthening of skills within the BOC to enhance their knowledge of strategic goods.<br>The agreement promotes cooperation between the BOC and DTI's Strategic Trade Management Office, covering areas such as data sharing, risk management, trade facilitation, and monitoring collective efforts.<br>The agreement aligns with the goal of United Nations Security Council Resolution No. 1540, which aims to prevent the proliferation of nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons through strategic trade management.<br>The BOC's core mandates of strengthening border control, enhancing trade facilitation, and improving lawful revenue collection are supported by the agreement.<br>The agreement aims to expedite clearances, reduce transaction time and costs, and maintain effective levels of strategic trade control.<br>The BOC is dedicated to preventing illicit trafficking of strategic goods and ensuring the security of the nation's borders.
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) have signed an agreement to strengthen trade policy in the country.
Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio and officials from the DTI signed a memorandum of agreement on Monday, Sept. 4, that will ensure the implementation of the Strategic Trade Management Act, also known as Republic Act No. 10697.
Under the agreement, the development and strengthening of skills of the BOC will be implemented which will enhance its knowledge of strategic goods.
It will also enhance the cooperation between the Customs and DTI’s Strategic Trade Management Office which encompasses data sharing, risk management, trade facilitation, and monitoring collective efforts.
The BOC said that the agreement represents its commitment to establish “robust and effective strategic trade controls in the country” which aligns with the goal of United Nations Security Council Resolution No. 1540.
“This resolution urges UN Member States to enforce measures and establish domestic controls to prevent the proliferation of nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons and their means of delivery through strategic trade management,” it said in a statement.
Rubio said that the agreement aligns with the core mandates of the BOC which are the strengthening of border control, enhancement of trade facilitation, and improvement of lawful revenue collection.
“It paves the way for a future in which strategic trade control processes expedite clearances, reduce transaction time and costs, and maintain effective levels of strategic trade control,” the BOC chief added.
Rubio said that the BOC is dedicated to preventing illicit trafficking of strategic goods and securing the nation’s borders.
“The BOC remains committed in fulfilling STMA-related obligations efficiently and is confident that the spirit of partnership will lead to the shared mission of balancing trade compliance, national security, and economic competitiveness,” he added. (Xander Dave G. Ceballos)