2013年-世界发展银行全球_Trade_Facilitation_in_the_Caribbean___The_Case_of_Customs_Performance_20页_1mb

Trade Facilitation in the Caribbean: The Case of Customs Performance

Core Content

This document examines the performance of customs systems in Caribbean countries and highlights the challenges they face in facilitating trade, despite the region's high economic openness. It emphasizes the importance of customs efficiency, predictability, and transparency for economic competitiveness and development. The analysis is based on data from the Customs Assessment Trade Toolkit (CATT), a monitoring tool developed by the World Bank, which assesses customs performance against international best practices.

Main Points

• Economic Openness: Caribbean economies are highly open, with trade representing a large proportion of GDP, especially in English Speaking Caribbean (ESC) countries. Many of these countries rely heavily on imports and foreign direct investments (FDI), which are crucial to their economic development.

• Customs Performance: Despite their integration into the global economy, customs performance in the Caribbean is comparatively low. The CATT data shows that the region's customs systems fall short of good practices in terms of speed, predictability, and transparency.

• Impact of Customs on Economy:

  • Customs procedures affect domestic prices through the pass-through of duties, taxes, and transaction costs.
  • Customs offices play a key role in attracting investors and boosting exports by ensuring efficient and predictable processes.
  • Poor customs performance can lead to hidden taxes and reduced competitiveness.

• Key Factors for Customs Performance:

  • Clearance Times: Delays in customs procedures are costly and reduce competitiveness. Most Caribbean countries have poor clearance times compared to Latin America and the good practice benchmark.
  • Predictability: Customs procedures are inconsistent and unreliable, increasing transaction costs and discouraging trade. No Caribbean country has implemented mechanisms like a single window system or the Authorized Economic Operators (AEO) program.
  • Transparency: There is a lack of accessible information and corruption monitoring systems. Most countries do not publish tariff rules or allow online tracking of import/export declarations.

Key Findings

• CATT Methodology: CATT evaluates customs performance using 120 indicators across seven dimensions (processes orientation, strategic thinking, control, efficiency, effectiveness, facilitation, and transparency), which are then aggregated into two high-level categories: performance and practice.

• Customs Performance in Caribbean Countries:

  • Only one country among six has an integrated information system.
  • Most countries have not implemented key modules such as transit and warehouse control, or risk assessment systems.
  • The percentage of cargo manifests submitted electronically is low, and the use of automated compliance and risk profiling systems is minimal.
  • The average number of days for customs clearance is significantly higher than the Latin American average, and physical inspections are common, often leading to inefficiencies.

• Strategic Thinking and ICT Implementation:

  • The implementation of ICT systems is not sufficient on its own; it must be complemented by effective operational practices.
  • Most Caribbean countries lack strategic plans, long-term technology strategies, and quantifiable performance measures.
  • The focus of ICT implementation is often limited to revenue collection rather than facilitating trade.

Policy Recommendations

• Strengthen the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to improve clearance times, predictability, and transparency.
• Implement good practices such as the AEO program, single window mechanisms, and risk-based selectivity.
• Develop comprehensive Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure consistency and accountability in customs operations.
• Enhance transparency by publishing regulations, tariff classifications, and providing online access to import/export declarations.
• Establish systematic risk assessment and control mechanisms to improve efficiency and reduce the risk of corruption.
• Create a strategic vision for customs modernization and align it with broader economic development goals.

Conclusion

Customs performance in the Caribbean is a critical issue that needs to be addressed to improve economic competitiveness and growth. While ICT systems are essential, they must be implemented alongside sound practices and strategic planning. The CATT results indicate that the region is underperforming, and there is a clear need for reforms to ensure that customs systems function as facilitators of trade rather than barriers.

Key Information

• Countries Studied: Six Caribbean countries (Country 1 to Country 6) were analyzed using CATT indicators.
• Data Sources: CATT data, World Bank's World Development Indicators, and CARICOM statistics.
• CATT Categories: Customs systems are classified into four performance levels: world class, contender, progress, and underperforming.
• Strategic Thinking: Most Caribbean countries lack a clear strategic plan for customs modernization.
• ICT Usage: Only a few countries have fully integrated customs IT systems, and the use of advanced features such as risk profiling is minimal.
• Corruption and Efficiency: The lack of transparency and predictability in customs operations increases the risk of corruption and reduces investor confidence.

Summary of CATT Performance

Customs performance in the Caribbean is a major constraint to economic growth and competitiveness, and significant improvements are needed to align with global standards.