On February 22 and 23, 2016 in Lima within the framework of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Council APEC meetings, a conference of the Apec Alliance members for the Logistic Chain Connectivity (Alliance for Supply Chain Connectivity – A2C2) was held. Promotion of dialogue between public and private actors were among the objectives of the event as well as the provision of inputs for the projects to be developed by this group. Likewise, initiatives were encouraged to strengthen the A2C2 role within the context of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement.

Findings and results of the US APEC Technical Assistance to Advance Regional Integration Project related to the Pre-clearance processing in Peru and Advance Rulings in Malaysia were presented at the meeting. The study on pre-arrival processing was conducted by Nathan Associates Inc. in collaboration with trade specialist Ms. Lynn Daugherty and Eduardo García-Godos from the Instituto Peruano de Facilitación del Comercio. Peruvian Customs authority played the role as the public counterpart.

The presentation was performed by Eduardo García-Godos and Mss. Irene Lanyi from SUNAT. The aim of the work was to identify problems that may be limiting the expansion of the advance clearance regimen established in the Peruvian Customs Law and to propose recommendations for its improvement.

Clearance prior to arrival is expected to become a major instrument to facilitate trade and it has been also set forth in the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement. The objective of such provision is collecting information related to merchandise to be imported prior to the arrival of the means of transport enabling the authorities to perform risk assessments beforehand and eventually a coordinated border control seeking the prompt release of goods as soon as they are unloaded.