International Border Agency Cooperation: A Practical Reference Guide
The World Trade Organization (WTO)’s recently adopted Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) calls for various types of cross-border cooperation and communication between Customs and the other border agencies of WTO members. Other multilateral and bilateral international agreements also authorize international cooperation between border agencies.
This Reference Guide is designed to help Customs authorities, other border agencies, and national stakeholders in developing countries to plan and implement appropriate international cooperation methods. In addition to being authorized by the TFA and other international agreements and instruments, such cooperation is important for four reasons:
- Enhanced trade facilitation from expedited processing of imports and exports benefits traders and the national economy as a whole;
- Improved revenue collection from more efficient border operations makes more financial resources available to the national government;
- More efficient and effective law enforcement combats dangers to society such as criminal enterprises, narcotics smuggling, terrorism; and
- More efficient use of national resources by sharing personnel and facilities with adjacent foreign border agencies benefits all participating countries.