On 31 July 2025, the World Customs Organization (WCO) advised that on 16 July, Jamaica had deposited its instrument of accession to the International Convention on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (Harmonized System or HS) with the WCO secretary general, becoming the 163rd contracting party to the convention.
The HS Convention will enter into force in Jamaica on 01 June 2026. The accession will not impact Jamaica’s customs tariff and statistical nomenclature as it is already based on the HS. However, it will enable Jamaica to participate in the maintenance and review of the instrument. As a contracting party, Jamaica gains the ability to be represented on the HS committee and the HS Review Sub-Committee (HSRSC) as they examine amendment proposals and questions on the scope and application of the HS.
The International Convention on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System is accessible at:
https://www.wcoomd.org/en/about-us/legal-instruments/conventions.aspx