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Manila Bulletin devider Business devider Banking & Finance devider Recto pushes for finalization of PH-HK customs pact to combat smuggling

Recto pushes for finalization of PH-HK customs pact to combat smuggling

Published Jun 25, 2025 12:09 pm
President Marcos’ chief economic manager has ordered the finalization of a cooperative agreement between the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and its Hong Kong counterpart to enhance trade facilitation.
Currently a draft, the bilateral customs cooperative arrangement also aims to protect consumers “from the risks posed by smuggled and illicit goods.”
Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Ralph G. Recto said in a June 25 statement that this arrangement is “necessary to ensure that both our Customs administrations are functioning together in the most efficient way possible.”
“We owe it to our nations to ensure that what crosses our borders is legitimate, safe, and lawful,” Recto said, while expressing gratitude to the Hong Kong government for collaborating with the Philippines.
According to the DOF, the draft bilateral arrangement was the “product of extensive discussions between the BOC and its Hong Kong counterparts in response to heightened global concern over supply chain security and the growing sophistication of cross-border smuggling operations.”
It noted that the draft arrangement is intended solely for the mutual administrative assistance between the customs administrations of both countries.
Key provisions on the expected mutual assistance between Customs administrations include sharing information and intelligence to enforce customs laws, prevent and investigate offenses, and secure the global trade supply chain.
To recall, the BOC’s Enforcement and Security Service (ESS) had confiscated a total of nearly ₱26 billion worth of smuggled goods from January to March this year, posting an ₱8-billion or over 40-percent increase from the same period last year.
Its anti-smuggling operations led to the seizure of more than ₱18 billion worth of goods in the first quarter of 2024. For the full year 2024, the ESS confiscated ₱85 billion worth of contraband.
In April, the BOC, the country’s second-largest tax agency, raked in ₱74.7 billion. It was 7.5 percent lower than a year ago, partly due to fewer working days and lower import volumes amid global trade challenges.
However, the BOC’s overall collection from January to April reached ₱306.1 billion, exceeding last year’s performance by 2.2 percent.

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Department of Finance (DOF) Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto
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