The priority tasks for more in depth cooperation between future Asia-Europe (ASEM) customs operations was high on the agenda of the fourth meeting of the ASEM Working Group on Customs Matters (AWC) in Hanoi on May 6.

The meeting said that the first priority will be facilitating trade and the security of chains of supply in which ASEM customs will continue to review and draw up an action plan. Simplifying customs procedures for the 2011-2012 period and defining concrete measures to assist ASEM members in carrying out programmes with trading partners were discussed.

Combating the violation of intellectual property rights is the second priority, said the meeting.

Activities to make a thorough assessment of the customs regulations relating to controlling intellectual property will be conducted. ASEM members will help one another to fight trade fraud and use current control mechanisms to exchange information on trends and make arrests.

Social and environmental protection are also future priority issues, said the meeting. ASEM customs will also assess the outcomes of its member agencies when implementing the law on environment protection.

The meeting said that a ASEM customs-business day will be held regularly to facilitate the ASEM business community discussing priority tasks as well holding talks with businesses./.