Free Trade Zones

BASCAP has called on G8 countries, in conjunction with competent international organizations (most notably the World Customs Organization), to improve the legal framework governing free trade zones so as to eliminate illegal pirate activity in these areas.

Suggested steps to eliminate pirate activity in FTZs

BASCAP is in favor of improving the the legal framework governing free trade zones, so as to eliminate illegal pirate activity in these areas.

Suggestions include:

1. Prohibit the admission to, processing in, and export from free trade zones of counterfeit and pirated goods, irrespective of country origin of such goods, country from which such goods arrive, or country of destination for such goods;
2. Provide customs administrations with the authority over free trade zones and goods in transit;
3. Empower customs authorities to proactively exercise this authority before the entry and after the exit of goods into a free trade zone, and to inspect goods in a free trade zone or a free port to ensure that no offense as to trafficking in counterfeit goods is being committed; and
4. Ensure the applicability and enforcement of anti-counterfeiting criminal and civil laws to check the activities of trafficking in counterfeit goods in free trade zones and free ports.

Word Customs Organization Open Day for Trade

As part of its effort to address counterfeiting and piracy in FTZs, BASCAP staff and members from Hewlett-Packard and Phillip Morris International attended the World Customs Organization (WCO) Open Day for Trade on 27-28 June 2011 in Brussels. The event was aimed at better engaging the business community to strengthen partnerships, share knowledge and pave the way for mutual support on customs issues. BASCAP looks forward to working with WCO and interested parties in the coming months and years to develop common aims and objectives in tackling what has become one of the leading threats to global economic prosperity and trade.

Press release for WCO Open Day for Trade