Cross-border e-commerce resolution gains corporate approval

Hong Kong-based logistics firm U-Freight Group expressed approval of the “Luxor Resolution” on e-commerce, recently adopted by the World Customs Organization (WCO) Policy Commission to help customs and other government agencies understand and address challenges that emerge with increasing e-commerce activity.

The resolution, named for the Egyptian city where it was adopted during the WCO Policy Commission’s December 2017 meeting, addresses eight aspects of e-commerce, including: advance electronic data and risk management; facilitation and simplification; safety and security; revenue collection; measurement and analysis; partnerships; public awareness, outreach and capacity building; and legislative frameworks.

With the issuance of the Luxor Resolution, the WCO is taking on a leadership role in creating frameworks for managing cross-border e-commerce, which has previously been addressed separately by individual companies and consortiums, but has generally lacked larger organization.

According to U-Freight, “the adoption of the Luxor Resolution will help establish an e-commerce framework of standards and associated operational/implementation plans, with timelines, to further support the development of cross-border e-commerce, whilst effectively addressing the challenges that arise.”

U-Freight’s CEO, Simon Wong, said the logistics company is facing challenges stemming particularly from growing volumes of business-to-consumer e-commerce demand and increasing time-sensitivity, “which pose unique challenges to all e-commerce stakeholders under the current conditions.”