Customs collaborates with EU’s DG TAXUD for streamlined export processes (Pictures)
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has joined forces with the Directorate General Taxation and Customs Union (DG TAXUD) of the European Union (EU) to enhance export monitoring and trade facilitation.
In a meeting held at the NCS Corporate Headquarters on February 27, 2024, Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, highlighted the collaboration’s focus on efficiency in export monitoring and documentation.
As the competent authority for rules of origin, Adeniyi assured that, “NCS is committed to facilitating the export process, emphasizing the potential for peace with flourishing trade”.
Acknowledging the collaboration as a positive step towards economic union, he welcomed the Registered Exporters initiative.
The CGC requested a framework for verifying and validating export commodities, expressing interest in a digital platform for document validation.
“The NCS is actively working with other Nigerian government agencies as part of an outreach program to maximize opportunities and overcome past challenges related to the quality and storage of exported goods”.
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To expedite the export documentation process, the NCS is establishing a ‘one-stop-shop’ export seat, reducing the time for Nigerian exporters to clear goods from ports.
Additionally, Time Release Studies have been launched, targeting the importation process, and similar initiatives are planned for measuring the time and cost of exporting products. The focus is on identifying and addressing bureaucratic modules, procedures, or laws causing delays.
Comptroller General Adeniyi envisions a system that is better, faster, and easier for confirming export requests promptly. Gary Wilkinson, working in Rules of Origin at DG TAXUD, highlighted a 4 percent tariff discount for exported Nigerian products under the Generalised System of Preference (GSP) scheme.
He emphasized occasional visits to developing countries to verify the origin of products sent to the EU and stated that trade agreements rely on cooperation between the two Customs departments.
See pictures below:
