PARAGUAY WILL SUPPORT WCO FRAMEWORK OF STANDARDS TO

UNCLAS ASUNCION 000758

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/BSC, WHA/EPSC
STATE PASS TO USTR FOR SCRONIN, LYANG
USAID FOR AA/LAC ADOLFO FRANCO
TREASURY FOR OSIA MAUREEN WAFER
COMMERCE ITA SARAH COOK
NSC FOR MIKE DEMPSEY
SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD
US SOUTHERN COMMAND MIAMI, FLORIDA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD PA CTM
SUBJECT: PARAGUAY WILL SUPPORT WCO FRAMEWORK OF STANDARDS TO
SECURE AND FACILITATE GLOBAL TRADE

REF: 05 STATE 94927

Econcouns delivered reftel demarche on the World Customs
Organization (WCO) Framework of Standards to Secure and
Facilitate Global Trade to the Director General of
Paraguayan Customs, Margarita Diaz de Vivar. The Director
General stated that she would be traveling to Brussels for
the June 23-25 sessions and would strongly support the
initiative. She emphasized the importance of standards and
training. Paraguay's customs service traditionally has been
beset by problems of corruption and a lack of
professionalism. Diaz de Vivar has been working hard to
improve Customs and implement Paraguay's new and modern
Customs Code, which took effect in January 2005.

KEANE