AmCham arrow Publications arrow Topics Archive arrow Topics Archive 2003 arrow Vol.33- No.10 arrow Issues: Communicating With Customs
Issues: Communicating With Customs PDF Print E-mail

The Director General came to lunch with detailed responses to questions raised by the transportation committee.

 

When the director general of the Customs administration, Chung Huo-cheng, was invited to attend an AmCham transportation committee luncheon meeting last month, he asked for a list of issues of concern to the committee so that he could prepare an immediate response. He arrived with a handout providing written comments on five topics, then augmented them with some verbal explanations.

One of the issues was an item raised in the 2003 Taiwan White Paper -- eliminating the requirement for bonded trucking on shipments into Taiwan's science-based industrial parks. Such a change would place the science parks on the same footing as the country's export processing zones and other bonded zones and facilities.

The director general's explanation was that the requirement was stipulated by law in the statute establishing the science parks. But he said his agency supports the idea of lifting the requirement and already suggested this revision in July in a document sent to the finance ministry for its review.

Easing the procedures for shipments going out of bonded areas would be more complicated, due to concern that goods may find their way into the local market. But Customs personnel later explained that such liberalization will also be considered.

Other subjects covered in the meeting included:
* Whether Taiwan can follow the lead of Singapore and Hong Kong in replacing export clearance for express shipments with post-entry procedures. Chung said Customs has "set up a task force to study the feasibility."
* Removing the 70-kg per piece limitation on shipments for express clearance. Chung promised to study what other countries do in this regard and to seek ways to overcome equipment limitations that affect the maximum weight that can be accepted by the conveying system for x-ray examination.

Although the director general was not able to meet the committee's requests in every instance, the multinational business executives in attendance noted the open-minded attitude shown by this 40-year Customs veteran, slated for retirement in January."We appreciate the forthcoming and sincere way in which he answered our questions " said Jimmy Chen, co-chair of the transportation committee. "His willingness to try to make life easier for all players impressed all the participants."
 
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