Customs "shares difficulty" with businesses to overcome the Covid-19 pandemic

Mr. Kim Long Bien

During the Covid-19 pandemic, import and export activities have been affected seriously. The Customs sector has researched and simplified many procedures in the State management of customs. Focusing on information technology to facilitate enterprises to overcome difficulties and stabilize production. But, how do you evaluate the results achieved?

In 2021, the economy suffered a lot of damage caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, causing difficulties for business and production activities of enterprises. In order to overcome this challenge, the Customs sector has been implementing many practical solutions to facilitate trade and support businesses overcoming difficulties caused by Covid-19, by focusing on boosting production, business, recovery and socio-economic development.

With practical solutions, the General Department of Vietnam Customs and local customs departments have promptly solved many problems of enterprises and gained useful information helpful for administrative reform.

After the conference with the business community, held annually by the Ministry of Finance and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), a number of documents on customs procedures and tax administration have been issued to create more favorable conditions for enterprises in production and business activities.

In particular, in the years of 2020 and 2021, the Customs sector stood with businesses to deal with issues.

One of the highlights in supporting and accompanying businesses is that the Customs sector has actively reviewed and developed policies to ensure the "dual goal" of trade facilitation and pandemic prevention.

The Customs authority has proactively advised many solutions to both facilitate trade and ensure Covid-19 pandemic prevention, whilst preventing loss of revenue for the State budget. In particular, guiding and allowing businesses to submit customs dossiers in electronic, temporarily halting physical inspections for goods which are located in the blocked areas and Suspending inspections for businesses that do not have signs of violations. This Allows Saigon Newport Corporation to transport goods from Cat Lai port to seaports and inland container depots in the same seaport system of the Corporation in Ho Chi Minh City and Binh Duong provinces, Dong Nai.

Support to carry out quick customs clearance procedures is essential. Guiding quick clearance for shipments of medical supplies is also integral to help support the Government.

At the same time, the Customs Authority will participate in the development of guidelines to support import and export activities in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. Accordingly, the Ministry of Finance issued Circular 82/2021/TT-BTC, dated September 30, 2021, which said, “Regulations on customs supervision will be imposed to alleviate pressures caused by imported goods transferred from congested border gates and seaports”. This follows Directive No. 16/CT-TTg dated March 31, 2021.

In addition, the Ministry of Finance continues to propose to the Prime Minister to include in the Government meeting agenda a resolution to solve the difficulties of the Covid-19 pandemic. This is with regard to extending the suspension of duty-free store’s operations and allowing export processing enterprises to rent warehouses outside industrial parks.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Finance is also finalizing a draft Circular, detailing the regulations on customs procedures for imported goods in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, the reality showed that, with diversified customs procedures of many types, it is inevitable that problems will arise that may affect the clearance time of enterprises. But those problems will be solved following the principle of transparency, openness and unification.

In the near future, what steps will the Customs authorities take?

In the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Customs sector has been applying maximum risk management measures, thereby reducing the burden on customs procedures.

The General Department of Vietnam Customs continues to direct provincial and municipal customs departments to coordinate with competent forces at border gates, in order to maintain solutions to ensure cargo clearance.

The General Department of Vietnam Customs also continues to review and complete the legal basis, customs procedures for import and export goods and means of transport on entry and exit. Simplifying customs dossiers, eliminating unnecessary documents and simplifying professional processes will also be their aim.

In particular, through dialogue, Customs authorities will promptly solve difficulties at border gates. Also, the Customs Authority wants to disseminate new legal documents and regulations to businesses to help them understand import and export procedures, to raise the awareness of law compliance in the business community and coordinate well with Customs in enforcing the law against smuggling and trade fraud, creating a healthy business environment in the business community.

The Customs Authority expected that businesses would be more proactive in responding to difficulties and obstacles in law enforcement. At the same time, they would actively contribute and propose solutions to the management agency in the development and supplement of laws related to tax and customs. This is in order to ensure feasibility, fairness and transparency of legal documents.