On 16 July, at the 127th and 128th Sessions of the Customs Co-operation Council (CCC) - commonly known as the World Customs Organisation (WCO) - the secretary general of the WCO announced the accession of Lao People’s Democratic Republic to the International Convention on the Simplification and Harmonisation of Customs Procedures (Revised Kyoto Convention or RKC).
Having entered into force on 03 February 2006, the RKC is a WCO legal instrument acceded to by several countries as a way to further promote legitimate trade and effective controls. It is regarded by the entire international Customs community as a key blueprint for modern Customs in the 21st Century, which complements countries’ efforts for ratification of the WTO Agreement on Trade Facilitation.
The RKC has 104 contracting parties and will enter into force for Lao People’s Democratic Republic on 16 October 2016.