June 8, 2023 Results of the WCO-UPU Global Conference

On June 6 and 7, the World Customs Organization (WCO, an international customs organization headed by Mr. MIKURIYA Kunio, Secretary General) and the Universal Postal Union (UPU, the UN’s specialized postal organization headed by Mr. METOKI Masahiko, Director General) co-hosted the WCO-UPU Global Conference in Tokyo, and Mr. MATSUMOTO Takeaki, Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications attended the opening ceremony.
At this conference, discussions were held among postal operators and customs authorities of various countries on how to strengthen cooperation between postal services and customs to ensure proper and smooth distribution of international mail, and the results were compiled into the Joint Declaration (Tokyo Declaration) by the WCO and UPU.

The volume of packages in international postal services is increasing due to the expanding use of e-commerce worldwide. Therefore, to ensure the appropriate and smooth distribution of international mail, it is required to promote both efforts to expedite customs and postal procedures and improve the quality of inspections. Against this backdrop, the WCO-UPU Global Conference was held in Tokyo to deepen discussions among each country’s postal operators and customs authorities on strengthening cooperation between postal services and customs. The outcome of the discussions was compiled into the Joint Declaration (Tokyo Declaration) (signed by Mr. MIKURIYA, WCO Secretary General, and Mr. METOKI, UPU Director General, on June 7).
Mr. MIKURIYA, WCO Secretary General, and Mr. METOKI, UPU Director General, as well as Mr. MATSUMOTO, Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications, Mr. INOUE Takahiro, State Minister of Finance, and Mr. MASUDA Hiroya, the President & CEO, Japan Post Holdings, as guests of honor, attended the opening ceremony of the conference (June 6).
Mr. MATSUMOTO, Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications, expressed his appreciation for the leadership of Mr. MIKURIYA, Secretary General of the WCO, and Mr. METOKI, Director General of the UPU, in organizing this conference. Mr. MATSUMOTO also expressed the need to strengthen cooperation between postal services and customs further to respond to the growing use of e-commerce worldwide appropriately. He also stated that, through Japan’s support*, the UPU would implement a project to promote the cooperation between postal services and customs in each country (using electronic advance data (EAD)).

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  The MIC signed a memorandum of cooperation (MOC) on cooperation with the UPU in 2010. Based on the MOC, MIC has made voluntary contributions to the UPU (approximately 2.2 million Swiss francs (about 300 million yen) this year, for a total of approximately 14.3 million Swiss francs (about 1.6 billion yen) to date). These contributions facilitate the support for UPU projects focused on enhancing the resilience of the postal network and adapting the postal sector to digitization and climate change.

(Points of the Joint Declaration (Tokyo Declaration))
Continuing the dialogue between WCO Member Customs administrations and designated operators of UPU member countries to ensure mutual understanding of our respective missions, requirements, and how we can best achieve them. Strengthening cooperation between our organizations and our members in capacity building, technical assistance, and raising public awareness of our respective missions and requirements to support the effective implementation of customs and postal procedures.
Fostering the exchange of information and data among all postal supply chain stakeholders, thus enabling the digitalization of postal and customs working processes to facilitate more efficient and effective collaboration. Improving the quality and accuracy of data and information exchanged between customs and designated postal operators to support the safe, secure, and efficient clearance of goods.
Facilitating the development and implementation of common tools to identify high-risk consignments and reduce the risk of smuggling, fraud, and other illicit activities.
Promoting the use of technology and innovation to improve the efficiency, transparency, and security of customs and postal processes, including the exploration of interconnection of data exchange platforms and interfaces, the deployment of advanced screening technologies, and the digitalization of the global postal supply chain.
Engaging partner organizations in developing and elaborating digital integration strategies related to electronic advance data in postal, transport, and customs procedures.

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  For details of the Joint Declaration (Tokyo Declaration), refer to the UPU website:
  https://www.upu.int/en/Press-Release/2023/WCO-and-UPU-boost-e-commerce-through-enhanced-Customs%E2%80%93Post-cooperation https://www.upu.int/UPU/media/upu/news/Tokyo-Declaration-ENG-web.pdf

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  The published materials are in Japanese only.