Page 209 - The Customs Department Annual Report 2018

A EA C F A Thai Customs Department has drafted a Customs Department
notifcation in preparation for the enforcement of AS A – Hong Kong, China FTA on 1 anuary 2019.

This FTA has been a by-product of the ASEAN Summit in 2013 which agreed on a FTA between
ASEAN and Hong Kong, China, instead of having HKC joining ASEAN – China, FTA.

JTEPA On 18 July 2019, in High Level Joint Commissions – HLJC between Thailand and
Japan, both countries have agreed to upgrade the current JTEPA to a higher standard. Thai Customs

Department is in a negotiation to adjust PSRs from the previously set HS2002 to be based on
HS2017 and now in a discussion to address issues arising from the enforcement of JTEPA to shorten
the time spent reviewing certifcates during the customs procedures.

DF F -D C ( DC ) In 2018, Ethiopia has submitted signature

samples of offcers who are authorized to issue certifcates of origins to seek DF F privilege. thiopia
is the frst among DCs which has coordinated with Thai Customs Department to re uest Customs
privileges. The Sixth WTO Ministerial Conference in 2005 in Hong Kong agreed that developed

countries, and developing-countries offer DFQF to all LDCs .

2. Authorized Economic Operator (AEO)

The Customs Department has been implementing AEO Program, in line with the WCO
Framework of Standard to Secure and Facilitate Global Trade (SAFE FoS), since 2012 to enhance

the competitiveness in international trade, enhance security, and facilitate trade throughout the
supply chain. The Mutual Recognition Arrangement: MRA under Authorized Economic Operator
(AEO) program would be a mechanism to promote cooperation among customs of different countries

under agreed standards and exchanges of privilege among standardized AEO operators in order to
facilitate more speedy clearance and obtain more customs privileges when exporting goods to

partner countries, ensure safety in supply chain, promote good economic impression, and encourage
private sector in pursuing international trade. Thai Customs Department’s AEO program has been
progressing continuously.

A t the present, there are 353 A Os certifed by the Customs Department, comprised of 178

importers and an exporters of AEO standard and 175 Customs Clearance Agents of AEO Standard (data
as of 30 September 2018). These operators are subject to every-three-year post-authorization audit to
re-consider their status and ensure that they can maintain the security standard prescribed by the

Customs Department. A total of 52 AEOs have passed the status-review audit, consisting of 38 importers
and an exporters of AEO standard and 14 Customs Clearance Agents of AEO (data as of 30 September

2018). Additionally, Thailand has signed MRAs under AEO project with Hong Kong, South Korea, and
Singapore and is in negotiating process to sign MARs with Malaysia, Australia and Japan.

The Customs Department / Annual Report 2018 207