By MIRIAM MALAWA
COMMISSIONER of the PNG Customs has slammed the notion that customs can inspect every container, citing it as a fallacy contrary to best practices and the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) trade facilitation framework.
David Towe’s response follows a viral video urging PNG Customs to scrutinize all Chinese goods due to concerns about counterfeit products.
Addressing queries from the Sunday Bulletin, Towe emphasized that inspecting every container would lead to significant delays, increased business costs, and higher retail prices.
“We cannot stop every container and start checking them. If we do, the importers and industry will not get their goods in a timely manner, they will be lots of delays in clearance, increased costs of doing business, therefore higher costs of goods at the shops, increased cost of productions, etc,” he said.
He reiterated that such an expectation contradicts established trade facilitation agreements under the WTO.
Towe clarified the customs approach, stating: “We apply risk-based intelligence-led principles to facilitate legitimate cargo while controlling the imports of illegal goods and ensuring tax compliance.”
He stressed the importance of understanding the risk management principles applied at the border to ensure effective international trade and travel facilitation and tax collections.
Additionally, Towe highlighted the role of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) protocols in the risk management process, emphasizing collaboration with rights holders and the Investment Promotion Authority (IPA) to administer the Trademarks Act governing trademarks and intellectual property rights.
