The International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA) has emphasized the need to strengthen advanced electronic data and risk management and fair and efficient revenue collection.
In a recent meeting with the World Customs Organization (WCO) private sector consultative group, FIATA stressed the need for efficient use of electronic systems, accurate and initial risk analysis, and appropriate sharing of risk analysis data.
The meeting discussed technology and customs, green customs, and the ongoing review of the SAFE Framework of Standards.
FIATA also stressed the importance of collaboration between industry and customs to ensure secure and efficient trade, and the importance of mutual recognition agreements, intra-government cooperation, and ensuring feasibility for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
It has strongly supported the crucial role of MSMEs in international trade and the need to ensure appropriate support for them to be able to effectively implement certification requirements.
In another meeting with the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail (OTIF), FIATA discussed the application of FIATA transport documents in the railway sector, alongside the organizations’ joint involvement in the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) project on negotiable cargo documents and their alignment with underlying transport conventions as well as the digitalization of the rail transport documents.
OTIF recently initiated an industry consultation on the potential revision of the Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail (COTIF) and its contractual appendices. FIATA has been invited to this consultation and is actively contributing by consulting its Working Group Rail and Advisory Body on Legal Matters delegates to ensure that the perspectives of freight forwarders are integrated into the future legal review.
Both organizations agreed to collaborate during the next FIATA meetings focused on rail transport, which will provide a platform for exchanges between the private and international sectors and will be a great opportunity to promote the role of rail transport in global logistics.
The meeting reinforced the shared goal of FIATA and OTIF to address the challenges and opportunities in rail transport while promoting international rail freight transport as the most sustainable mode of transport.
FIATA looks forward to continuing its longstanding cooperation with OTIF to ensure rail transport interoperability, efficiency, and adaptability within developing legal frameworks.(Edu Lopez)
