Liberia

12 - Customs cooperation

Articles 12.1.112.1.212.2.112.2.212.312.4.1 (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f)12.4.212.5.1 (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f)12.5.212.5.312.6.1 (a), (b), (c), (d), (e)12.6.212.7.1 (a), (b), (c), (d), (e)12.7.212.812.9.112.9.212.10 (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h)12.11.1 (a), (b), (c)12.11.212.12.112.12.2
View measure text
Indicative date of implementation 22 February 2018
Definitive date of implementation 22 February 2025
Extension of implementation dates
Request received
2 December 2024
Original definitive date
22 February 2025
New date requested
22 February 2028
Agreed date
Reason
Additional time is needed to secure technical assistance for the development of appropriate infrastructure (electronic platform) for the exchange of data information and system interfacing. Support is also needed for the formulation of policy to improve customs control and for requesting information, as well as capacity building of external stakeholders, customs officers and public education and awareness.
Committee approval:
Not approved
Link to notification
Assistance required for implementation Infrastructures
• Develop an electronic platform for the exchange or sharing of data information and systems interfacing
Human Resources/Training and Awareness
• Capacity building for external stakeholders and customs officers.
• Public sector education and awareness
Policy
• Formulate policy to improve customs control and for requesting information.
• Formulate a compliance instrument to include related policies and action plans.

Tags: Information and communication technologies (ICT), Legislative and regulatory framework, Infrastructure and equipment, Human resources and training, Awareness-raising

Donor / Agency

To be determined

Progress reported
31 July 2026 — G/TFA/N/LBR/4/Rev.1  

Sections 1220 to 1223 of the Modernized Customs Code of 2018 as well as the Nairobi Convention, provide the legal framework for data exchange between Customs administration's with regards to the import/export/transit of goods. Collaborations exist among Customs authorities within the Mano River Union (MRU) region and these are supported by MOUs and other agreements, including the ECOWAS Customs Code and the Sigma Corridor Transit initiative. In addition, there are partial data-sharing arrangements between Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone that are being utilised on a very limited scale. Language barriers, a lack of overall awareness of the data exchange arrangements in place, and alignment with international best practices are some of the associated gaps.

Liberia has designated and notified its Customs Cooperation contact point to the WTO.

While the legal framework for customs cooperation has largely been established, the operational utilization of existing arrangements remains limited. Challenges include language barriers, limited awareness of available information-exchange mechanisms, insufficient operational procedures, and the need for stronger alignment with international best practices for customs cooperation and data exchange.

To strengthen implementation of Article 12, technical assistance and capacity-building support are required to: improve the current framework by developing an overarching policy and governance framework for effective data exchange and to draft related SOP's. Support is also required to conduct an assessment to identify data exchange opportunities that are not being fully utilized. This should include engagements with all neighbouring Customs authorities to ensure that arrangements are reciprocal and that security measures are in place to ensure that information exchanged is managed in an appropriate and confidential manner.


22 August 2022 — G/TFA/N/LBR/4  
To date, no development partners have proposed assistance for the implementation of this measure.

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