VCCI comments on Customs development strategy for 2021-2030 period

Customs officers of Huu Nghi border gate Customs Branh inspect imported goods. Photo: H. Nu

Improving efficiency of anti-trade fraud

VCCI has given comments on the Customs development strategy for the 2021-2030 period.

VCCI said the draft strategy has pointed out that complicated developments of the world and the region together with issues of globalization, protectionism and trade wars are posing new challenges and opportunities for Vietnam.

The expansion of protectionism measures of countries has increased trade fraud to avoid trade remedies and expanded risks to economic industries.

This requires strengthening anti-trade fraud, especially in the Customs field.

Vietnam Customs should review challenges to respond to inappropriate measures applied by other countries to restrict Vietnam’s exported goods, said VCCI.

Vietnam has signed commitments related to customs and trade facilitation. Therefore, the effective implementation of all these commitments plays an important role in developing this strategy, according to VCCI.

In addition, the strategy has also indicated inadequacies in the implementation of customs reform and modernization from 2011 to 2020. The inadequacies are related to law, customs operations, information and technology application, the implementation of the National Single Window, apparatus organization and modernization of customs equipment, said VCCI.

However, VCCI has proposed reviewing shortcomings related to inconsistency in legal provisions on functions, tasks among specialized management and inspection agencies; and evaluating problems of IT systems in the management of import and export procedures.

Periodic comments from businesses required

Regarding the targets until 2025, the draft strategy sets out targets for connecting, integrating and sharing digital data with the Steering and Administration System of the Ministry of Finance and the National Reporting System.

According to VCCI, this is an important target, but the drafting agency should consider adding data sharing content between ministries and industries related to import and export procedures.

Recent surveys conducted by VCCI and the General Department of Customs showed that the level of information sharing between Customs and specialized management agencies was still limit ed. Better information sharing will help businesses avoid declaring the same content many times when carrying out procedures at different State agencies.

The VCCI also suggested amending the target as "complete implementation" of international commitments in the field of customs, because commitments on customs and trade facilitation do not require many legal changes, but mainly actual performance.

In the solution on customs operations, related to the implementation of green customs, VCCI proposed expanding the application scope; considering solutions to enhance information support and answers for businesses.

In addition to the solutions for human resource development in the Customs sector mentioned in the draft strategy, VCCI wants to consider additional solutions to control the compliance of customs officers with the law, in order to minimize the risk of abuse of power and harassment.

Regarding the development of the Customs-Business partnership, VCCI said that the contents mentioned in this section are mostly objectives, not specific solutions, so solutions can be given such as: establishing regular/periodic dialogue channels between customs at each border gate and enterprises; organize an annual dialogue forum between each customs department/branch and enterprises; and set up a hotline to answer questions of businesses.

The periodic assessment of enterprises on import and export administrative procedures is also an important solution. VCCI believes that the cooperation in survey activities between the General Department of Customs - the Ministry of Finance and VCCI from 2012 have helped improve the quality of legal policy development and implementation and reform of administrative procedures for import and export.

The draft Strategy has also drawn six lessons during the implementation of the Customs Development Strategy for the 2011-2020 period. According to VCCI, these are important lessons and experiences, contributing to the successful implementation of the previous Customs Development Strategy, as well as helping to identify objectives, tasks and solutions for the 2021-2030 period. However, VCCI proposed adding a content about the proactiveness of the Customs sector in consulting the business community on policies, laws, import and export procedures, etc through cooperation with VCCI and business associations.