Nigeria recently took part in the 74th Harmonised System Committee (HSC) Meeting of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) in Brussels, Belgium, held from 16 to 27 September 2024.
The Harmonised System Committee (HSC) is responsible for managing the Harmonised System Nomenclature (HSN), which provides a standardized classification system for goods and facilitates global trade.
Given Nigeria’s significant market index in Africa and high volumes of imports, its participation in the HSC is crucial. The decisions made during these meetings have far-reaching economic implications, particularly on customs formalities within the country.
The HSC primarily focuses on the classification of goods and ensures correct categorization under the HSN. It involves detailed discussions on goods descriptions and applicable tariff codes or headings in line with legal provisions and explanatory notes. By streamlining and standardizing the process, the HSC maintains transparency and efficiency in global trade.
Furthermore, the HSC provides a platform for resolving tariff classification disputes between customs and economic operators, leveraging inputs from other Contracting Parties to ensure objective resolutions.
During the meeting, Nigeria’s representative, CSC Lauretta Utubor, a beneficiary of the WCO 88th fellowship programme and Team Lead for Advance Rulings in Nigeria’s Customs Service, delivered a presentation on the role of essential tools in successful implementation, such as self-awareness, strategic communication, political will, intentionality, people management, and change management. This demonstrated Nigeria’s commitment to adopting global best practices and promoting trade facilitation and customs modernization.
Participating in such high-level engagements with customs experts worldwide enhances Nigeria’s decision-making capabilities when providing legally binding advice to economic operators. The insights gained from the 74th HSC meeting are expected to further strengthen Nigeria’s customs processes and consolidate its leadership in trade facilitation within Africa.
The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) delegation was led by Assistant Comptroller Abubakar Hardo, Chief Superintendent of Customs (CSC) Ekay Asuquo, and CSC Lauretta Utubor (Team Lead for Advance Rulings).
