Business West attends the 13th World Chambers Congress, Geneva

Digitisation of international trade

Last week Business West attended the International Chambers of Commerce (ICC) 13th World Chambers Congress in Geneva, meeting with other Chambers of Commerce and key business leaders from around the globe. The theme of the conference was achieving peace and prosperity through collaboration.

A key focus of the Congress was international trade and digitisation of trade processes, of which Business West is involved in two exciting projects that were discussed in various sessions at the conference and will be of interest to businesses engaged in international trade.

e-ATA Carnets: simplifying temporary export

A lively panel session of ATA Carnet specialists from the World ATA Carnet Council, ICC, and World Customs Organisation, among other organisations, discussed 60 years of ATA Carnets, from its paper origins to its digital future.

ATA Carnets are a trusted, standardised customs document for facilitating temporary exports, providing a streamlined process, as well as a tax and duty-free solution, for moving goods across borders. Currently, ATA Carnets are paper-based documents, requiring significant paperwork and manual processing by exporters and Chambers of Commerce, however, the advent of digital technologies has given birth to the e-ATA Carnet, a digital version of the traditional ATA carnet. 

Catherine Stephens (pictured above), Head of International Trade Services at Business West, who attended the Congress, said:

“The digitisation of ATA Carnets provides an exciting opportunity for temporary exporters, Chambers of Commerce and Customs. E-ATA Carnets will simplify and expedite the administrative burden associated with ATA Carnets and save customers valuable time and resources. Digitisation also reduces the likelihood of errors and ensures greater accuracy, reducing the likelihood of financial penalties from overseas Customs. 

“The e-ATA Carnet will also be quicker to use. Customs officers can scan the Carnet on an app in a matter of moments, whereas the paper version has to be checked, completed and stamped, which takes far longer. Whilst a paper version can be lost because the e-ATA Carnet is cloud-based, a digital ATA Carnet can always be accessed as it will be on the centralised ATA Carnet system. Currently, many ATA Carnets get lost, misplaced or not returned to Business West each year, leading to claims and financial penalties from overseas customs territories. Business West are excited to be getting involved in the e-ATA Carnet project this year as e-ATA Carnets will provide a more robust temporary export ATA Carnet system for customers, Chambers of Commerce and Customs territories alike”.

Genesis: digital validation of rules of preference

The Congress also emphasised the broader trend of self-certification in international trade when it comes to Certificates of Origin and the associated risks (compliance, human errors, fraud), which is where Project Genesis and Chambers of Commerce have an important role. 

Business West was one of five UK Chambers of Commerce to take part in the pilot project, alongside a number of overseas Chambers. James Monk, Commercial Director at Business West attended a project meeting at the Congress, and Martin Van Der Weide, Chair of International Certificates of Origin Council at the International Chamber of Commerce and World Chambers Federation, spoke on a panel talking about Certificates of Origin and gave an update on the Genesis project. 

James Monk said about Genesis:

“Now that we have completed the pilot phase of this project and demonstrated how it can really benefit companies trading internationally, Genesis is now ready to progress into a wider rollout across the globe. This will enable Chambers of Commerce to deliver a new trade service which will help verify preferential origin statements on invoice declarations.

“The rising concern among overseas buyers regarding self-declarations in the realm of rules of origin and compliance necessitates a robust solution. In response, the implementation of a reliable platform can offer reassurance to manufacturers and buyers alike, while also reinforcing the global reputation of Chambers of Commerce as independent third parties. This solution effectively mitigates the risks associated with human error and fraud, instilling confidence in the process. Furthermore, as the government engage in more free trade agreements, this platform provides a valuable source of clarity and certainty for global supply chains.”

The International Chambers of Commerce (ICC) 13th World Chambers Congress in Geneva proved to be an influential platform for Business West and other Chambers of Commerce worldwide to collaborate, network and hear about important developments in digital international trade projects, alongside other important themes of the Congress.

Business West's involvement in these projects demonstrates its commitment to driving progress in international trade and enabling our customers to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

For more information about e-ATA Carnets and Genesis please contact our International Trade team.