English for customs officers

EXERCISES

I. Read the definitions. Supply the missing letters to each word.

II. Speak about Kyoto Convention and tangible benefits for all Contracting Parties?

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FOLLOW-UP ACTIVITIES

I. Give the full official titles of the following Customs Conventions:

1.Commercial Samples Convention.

2.Private Road Vehicles Convention.

3.Containers Convention.

4.Professional Equipment Convention.

5.Packings Convention.

6.ATA Convention.

II. Insert the missing words in the following official documents (I–III), making all the necessary changes. Choose from:

I

RECOMMENDATION OF THE CUSTOMS CO-OPERATION COUNCIL ON THE INSERTION IN NATIONAL STATISTICAL NOMENCLATURES OF SUBHEADINGS TO FACILITATE THE COLLECTION AND COMPARISON OF DATA

ON THE INTERNATIONAL MOVEMENT OF SUBSTANCES CONTROLLED BV THE MONTREAL PROTOCOL

ON SUBSTANCES THAT DEPLETE THE OZONE LAYER

(26 June 1990)

THE CUSTOMS CO-OPERATION COUNCIL,

(a)... the urgent need to monitor the international trade in substances that deplete the ozone layer,

(b)... the request by the United Nations Environment Programme to introduce specific subheadings in the Harmonized System in order to facilitate the collection and comparison of data on the international movement of substances controlled by the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer,

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(c)... that amendments to the Harmonized System Convention cannot be implemented for several years,

(d)... that Member administrations and Contracting Parties to the Harmonized System Convention take all appropriate actions to insert the following additional structure in their statistical nomenclatures, as soon as possible:

Subheading 2903.40 of the Harmonized System

– Trichlorofluoromethane

– Dichlorodifluoromethane

– Trichlorotrifluoroethanes

– Other, and

(e)... Member administrations and Contracting Parties to the Harmonized System Convention to notify the Secretary General of their acceptance of this Recommendation and of the data of its application.

II

RESOLUTION OF THE CUSTOMS CO-OPERATION COUNCIL ON THE INTRODUCTION OF PRE-ENTRY CLASSIFICATION INFORMATION PROGRAMMES

(25 June 1991)

THE CUSTOMS COOPERATION COUNCIL,

(a)... that the Harmonized System has been widely adopted by countries and Customs or Economic Unions,

(b)... that many Customs administrations have implemented or intend to implement pre-entry classification information programmes on the basis of the Harmonized System,

(c)... the benefits of pre-entry classification information programmes in facilitating international trade, in particular, by ensuring certainty and predictability in the application of the Harmonized System,

(d)... that such programmes are also useful for promoting uniform classification in the Harmonized System,

(e)... that Member administrations and Contracting Parties to the Harmonized System Convention take all appropriate action to introduce pre-entry classification information programmes as soon as possible.

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III

RECOMMENDATION OK THE CUSTOMS CO-OPERATION COUNCIL CONCERNING THE AMENDMENT

OF THE HARMONIZED COMMODITY DESCRIPTION

AND CODING SYSTEM

(6 July 1993)

THE CUSTOMS CO-OPERATION COUNCIL,

(a)... to the International Convention on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System, concluded on 14 June 1983,

(b)... to the Protocol of Amendment to the said Convention, dated 24 June 1986,

(c)... to the Nomenclature appended as an Annex to the said Convention,

(d)... to the Council Recommendation of 5 July 1989, amending that Nomenclature,

(e)... that it is necessary to make further amendments to that Nomenclature in order to take account of, in particular, changes in technology or patterns of international trade,

On the advice of the Harmonized System Committee,

(f)... to the Contracting Parties, in accordance with Article 16 of the Convention, the following amendments to the Nomenclature...

(In view of its length and technical nature, the body of the Recommendation is not reproduced.)

III. Read the two texts and answer the following questions.

1.Can you name the Convention, mentioned in the text?

2.What threatened species of flora do you know?

3.What threatened species of fauna do you know?

4.What species are especially favoured by smugglers? (in what countries? on what routes? why?)

5.What are the efforts undertaken by Customs administrations to stop the trafficking of illegal wildlife and wildlife products?

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Text 1

THREATENED SPECIES

Every day 100 species of flora and fauna are lost for ever. A quarter of the Earth's estimated 5 million to 30 million plants, animals, microorganisms and ecosystems is believed to be at risk of extinction within 30 years. Their loss threatens not only the world's climate and the maintenance of oxygen in the atmosphere, but also crop breeding and such vital industries as those producing pharmaceuticals from plants. Under the auspices of the UN, legal and technical groups worked out an International Convention to save the Earth's disappearing plant and animal species.

Text 2

WCO AND WCS TO COLLABORATE ON ILLEGAL

WILDLIFE TRADE

BRUSSELS, 7 January 20161

The World Customs Organization (WCO) and the WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at reducing the amount of illegal wildlife products moving across international borders. The MoU was signed by Dr. Cristián Samper, WCS President and CEO, and Kunio Mikuriya, Secretary General of the WCO.

As the criminal networks that profit from wildlife trafficking have become more organized, the illegal cross-border trade in wildlife has been made more sophisticated through the use of superior technology. Stopping the trafficking of illegal wildlife and wildlife products is essential to conserving endangered species such as elephants, tigers, marine turtles, pangolins, and many others.

With the signing of this MoU, WCO and WCS agree to exchange information, collaborate on policy decisions, and cooperate in multiple ways in efforts to stop illegal wildlife trade. WCO and WCS affirmed that the issue should be addressed through commensurate and oordinated national, regional and international measures.

1 http://www.wcoomd.org/en/media/newsroom/2016/january/wco-and-wcs- to-collaborate-on-illegal-wildlife-trade.aspx

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Customs officials across the globe are on the front line in efforts to prevent smuggling of illegal wildlife products across international borders. A total of 180 governments are members of the WCO, representing more than 98 percent of world trade. WCS staff members have conducted training for WCO and Customs officials in many countries, an example of beneficial collaboration that could expand under this agreement.

Susan Lieberman, WCS Vice President of International Policy, said, «By working side by side with those on the front lines of combating trafficking, we collaborate to stop this scourge and enable more effective conservation of endangered species».

«I am pleased to be able to count on the support of WCS to meet the complex challenges posed by the illegal wildlife trade. Together we will work to strengthen Customs enforcement capabilities and promote exchange of information and partnerships between relevant stakeholders», said WCO Secretary General Kunio Mikuriya.

WCO and WCS are members of the Transport Task Force of United for Wildlife, where both have worked collaboratively and productively for the past year with other members to engage the transport industry in efforts to halt wildlife trafficking.

IV. Translate the following into Russian.

Economic life does not stop at national boundaries but flows back and forth across them. Many efforts have been made in modern times to promote trade among nations. The ways in which this may be attempted range from agreements among governments to reduce or eliminate trade barriers to more ambitious attempts to harmonize economic politics.

V. Punctuate the following text.

The exponential increase in global trade and the changing dynamics of the international supply chain have created new demands and perspectives on the role of Customs administrations while businesses seek to move goods faster in the supply chain at reduced costs Customs administrations are required to process increasing volumes of cargo with lesser reliance on physical intervention and with greater efficiency and speed without compromising on its security revenue collection and enforcement

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responsibilities in order to accomplish this there is an increasing need for Customs administrations and businesses to collaborate with each other and with other stakeholders to ensure regulations policies and programs effectively respond to an ever changing environment a dynamic partnership is essential to drive innovation and economic growth opportunities and at the same time create a more cost-effective efficient and responsive Customs administration.

VI. Translate the following into English.

Работа таможни оказывает существенное влияние на движение товаров через международные границы. Для повышения эффективности движения товаров в международной торговле правительствам через свои таможенные органы следует как можно скорее провести анализ существующей таможенной практики и разработать программу реформ применительно к тем процедурам, которые будут определены как неэффективные и излишние. При этом следует учитывать положения существующих международных конвенций по упрощению и гармонизации таможенных процедур (Киотской конвенции Совета таможенного сотрудничества). Эту работу следует проводить, учитывая национальные интересы торговых и транспортных организаций для обеспечения полной координации деятельности перевозчиков, портовиоргановтаможенногоконтроля.

DO IT FOR FUN

I. Define the names of the following documents:

Make up sentences with the above documents using the list of verbs below.

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II. Make a two-way translation of participial and adjectival phrases used in international documents.

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III. Find the following hidden words in the word search.

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