[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 18 (Tuesday, February 2, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E98]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                       INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMS DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. PHILIP M. CRANE

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 2, 1999

  Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, The World Customs Organization [WCO] 
designated January 26 as International Customs Day, a time to give 
recognition to customs services around the world for the role they play 
in generating revenue and protecting national borders from unauthorized 
imports.
  The U.S. Customs Service represents the United States in the World 
Customs Organization which, since 1953, has grown into a 142-member 
international organization. The WCO's purpose is to facilitate 
international trade, promote cooperation between governments on customs 
matters, and standardize and simplify customs procedures 
internationally. It also offers technical assistance in the areas of 
customs validation, nomenclature, and law enforcement. The 
organization's objective is to obtain the highest possible level of 
uniformity among the customs systems of its member countries. The 
involvement of the U.S. Customs Service in the WCO reflects the 
recognition that our country and its trading partners benefit when 
international trade is facilitated by simple, unambiguous customs 
operations around the world.
  I take this opportunity to offer my congratulations to the World 
Customs Organization on its past accomplishments and wish it well in 
its ambitious efforts to further harmonize and simplify customs 
regulations. I also congratulate the U.S. Customs Service for its many 
years of fine work both domestically and internationally.

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