"The European Commission has intensified its activities on monitoring the functioning of preferential trade agreements. There is a risk that others use the name of Papua New Guinea to benefit from free access to Europe, in which case, jobs and income would be created elsewhere. This is why Papua New Guinea customs has an important role to play in watching over the origin of exports to the EU."

Carola Bremkamp, European Commission, Directorate for Taxation and Customs[[{"fid":"7581","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default","field_caption[und][0][value]":""},"type":"media","attributes":{"alt":"Trade Related Assistance Programme - Phase 2","height":"165","width":"220","style":"float: right;","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]

CONTEXT

In December 2014, European customs and origin experts trained 40 government officials on the correct implementation of the rules of the Free Trade Agreement between Papua New Guinea and the European Union (EU), the so called Interim Economic Partnership Agreement (iEPA). The capacity building mission aimed to work with Papua New Guinean customs counterparts to strengthen the control systems and help correctly implement the preferential rules in the interest of the country.

OBJECTIVES

• The objective of the mission from Europe was to strengten the capacity of Papua New Guinean customs officials to improve on the way the trade agreement and particularly the rules of origin are implemented.

RESULTS

• The training fostered closer collaboration between Papua New Guinea Customs and the National Fisheries Authority, which also took part in this exercise.
• Customs officials are better informed of the requirements concerning the export of frozen fish, for which exporters need to comply fully with the procedures, notably follow the applicable declarations and certificates. This will not only guarantee that benefits of PNG fish accrues to Papua New Guinea but also help better control catches and fish stock conservation in territorial waters.

TESTIMONY

Papua New Guinea Customs officers at the forefront of the application of trade agreements

"My name is Christina Amos and I am the Director Tariff & Trade in PNG Customs. I have been working with PNG Customs for 16 years and love my profession as a Customs Officer.

As the Director, I am responsible to meet the objective of PNG Customs Corporate Plan in providing the correct tariff, valuation, excise, export and advance ruling advices in line with WCO best practices. Apart from these, I am also responsible for the implementation of Government policy directives on trade facilitation and promote trade and investment by uniform application of import, excise, export Tariff Act and other Customs Act and Legislation both domestically and internationally. It is very challenging at times but I like it and perform to the best of my ability.

Customs implements the iEPA Agreement but for both Customs officers and stakeholders (exporters) we were confused on the accurate information required in the €1 certificate and the conditions to determine whether the goods are originating or not. This workshop was an eye opener as we were able to clarify and correct ourselves. Also having other agencies involved in this workshop gave us a wider perspective of the roles they played in this Agreement. From this workshop, it has clarified things for me and has given me a better understanding of Protocol II in the iEPA Agreement. I am now in a better position to ensure that the conditions under Protocol II are met to determine the origin of the goods and the correct application of the €1 are implemented.

After this workshop the Tariff & Trade Section has are lots of challenges set ahead which are:

1. Conduct Awareness workshops in the three respective regions for Customs Officers, other implementing agencies and Stakeholders (Exporters to EU member states) in regard to Protocol II.

2. Continuous Consultative workshop with other implementing agencies, example National Fisheries Authority (NFA).

3. Dissemination and co-ordination of the €1 form to all respective Customs ports.

4. Follow up reviews in respective Customs Ports implementing the EUR 1 Certificate.

I am confident that we will achieve these results and would like to thank the EU Commission in assisting PNG Customs. PNG Customs will perform to its capacity in implementing the Protocol II under the iEPA Agreement."