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By Kenneth Jukpor
As part of efforts to boost economic activities at the nation’s port and improve the nation’s revenue, the Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Col. Hammed Ali (Rtd.) has advocated for full compliance to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreements.
The Customs boss made this call while delivering a paper at the 2018 edition of the annual Nigeria International Maritime Ports and Terminals Conference and Expo (NIMPORT).
The Comptroller General who was represented by the Deputy Controller, Enforcement at Tin Can Command, DC Dera Nnadi, maintained that WTO had already established the right framework for trade policies that should see the nation’s economy blossom.
“Nigeria is a signatory to the WTO agreement and the essence of that agreement is to facilitate trade across the globe and to empower every economy. It discourages barriers to trade such as tariff barriers, official barriers and provides a platform thriving on transparency. The agreement also introduces competitiveness among the trading communities or nations” he said.
Although studies show that the WTO boosted trade and research shows that in the absence of the WTO, the average country would face an increase in tariffs on their exports by 32% points, the Customs boss lamented that the country was yet to maximize the potentials of the trade agreement.
He noted that the main principles in the agreement which could transform the country’s economic fortunes include; transparency as WTO members are required to publish their trade regulations, to maintain institutions allowing for the review of administrative decisions affecting trade, to respond to requests for information by other members, and to notify changes in trade policies to the WTO.
While delivering a paper at the event titled, “An Insight into Customs Clearance and Changing Policies”, he revealed that the Customs had achieved 85% paperless system as it had adopted efficient online mechanisms for its operations such as the new Customs online platform to expedite clearing process; Nigerian Integrated Customs Information System II (NICIS II).
Meanwhile, he expressed confidence that the Customs Service would reach an agreement with Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to develop a single window platform to capture data for vessels that call at the nation’s ports.
According to him, other key principles in the WTO agreement are compliance to Information Technology (I.T) and frequent stakeholder engagements.
Meanwhile, in another development, the President of United States of America (USA), Donald Trump has threatened to intervene in the Justice Department if they fail to take the actions he’s demanding. At a rally in Indiana, Trump also continued his attacks on democrats and the media.
President Donald Trump threatened to upend the rules of global trade on Thursday last week, saying he would pull out of the World Trade Organization unless it adopts rules more favorable to the United States.
“If they don’t shape up, I would withdraw from the WTO,” Trump told the press.
Trump has long been frustrated with the WTO, which sets the standards and rules that govern other international trade agreements, and provides a forum for resolving disputes. He specifically wants the Geneva-based body to take a tougher stance on China’s steel dumping and theft of U.S. intellectual property.
The World Trade Organization (WTO) deals with the global rules of trade between nations. Its main function is to ensure that trade flows as smoothly, predictably and freely as possible.
