30.01.2024

The American Chamber of Commerce of Trinidad and Tobago (AMCHAM T&T) has continued its engagement and collaboration with the Customs and Excise Division on key issues impacting business in Trinidad and Tobago.

In a recent meeting with the Comptroller of Customs and Excise and other high-level executives of the Customs’ Leadership, AMCHAM T&T reaffirmed our commitment to working collaboratively with Customs to improve trade facilitation without compromising border security or revenue collection.

Among the specific items discussed were the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPS) of Customs to allow for the consistent treatment of shipments. This is an issue that has been a high priority for our members over several years as the lack of consistency decreases efficiency. We were heartened to be shown draft SOPs for transit sheds and, even more so, by Customs’ commitment to finalize and implement them by the end of the first quarter of 2024.

In what was an extremely collaborative and open atmosphere, the Customs leadership acknowledged that a reduction in clearance times is desirable. In this regard, with the introduction of new scanners for inspections and clearance, Customs indicated that they will be reviewing and adapting its risk management systems and have scheduled a follow-up meeting with AMCHAM T&T next month to share some of the high-level results of the impact of the scanners of the clearance process and clearance procedures moving forward.

Concerning the issue of upliftment whereby Customs increases the cost of the product based on their research, AMCHAM T&T has agreed to further collaborate with our courier members to impress upon their customers the need to provide the correct documentation so that Customs can ascertain the true price or value that the customers pay at clearance. Customs reminded that all items imported for trade purposes should be identified as such so that the correct treatment can be employed on these shipments.

AMCHAM T&T is grateful for the level of collaboration and engagement with the Customs and Excise Division to meet and openly discuss these pressing issues. We understand that solving all the issues, under the three pillars of border protection, revenue collection, and trade facilitation, is a complex and continuous process that will require several rounds of engagement for all parties to achieve the desired results. Therefore, we look forward to having further fruitful and engaging collaboration with the Comptroller and Customs Leadership to address these concerns while working together on helping to facilitate Customs’ mandate on border security, revenue collection, and trade facilitation.

The following representatives were in attendance at the meeting:
• Stuart Franco – President (AMCHAM T&T)
• Nirad Tewarie – CEO (AMCHAM T&T)
• Melissa Pierre – Senior Trade and Policy Specialist (AMCHAM T&T)
• Riad Juman – Comptroller (ag.) (Customs and Excise)
• Bernard Nicholas – Deputy Comptroller of Enforcement (Customs and Excise)
• Dexter Robertson – Assistant Comptroller Preventative & Tobago (ag.) (Customs and Excise)
• C. Jaigobind – Advisor (USCBP)
• Allan Mattook – Assistant Comptroller Excise, Assessment & Approved Undertakings (ag.) (Customs and Excise)
• Savitri Ramjit – Assistant Comptroller Corporate Services (ag.) (Customs and Excise)
• Ishwar Singh – Assistant Comptroller (ag.) (Customs and Excise)
• Shiraz Mohammed – Assistant Comptroller (ag.) (Customs and Excise)
• Rowena Maitland-Jack – Assistant Comptroller (ag.) (Customs and Excise)

END.