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Viet Nam Customs Attends the 2026 APEC SCCP2 Meeting in Dalian, China

From 22 to 24 August 2026, a Viet Nam Customs delegation led by Deputy Director General Au Anh Tuan attended the Second Meeting of the APEC Sub-Committee on Customs Procedures (SCCP2) in Dalian, China. At the meeting, Viet Nam Customs took part in a thematic panel discussion on bridging the digital divide, sharing perspectives and experience from its digital transformation journey while also presenting the proposed direction for SCCP activities during Viet Nam's APEC host year in 2027.

Delegates pose for a commemorative photo at SCCP2 in Dalian, China.

Digital Transformation Calls for Deeper Cooperation Among APEC Economies

SCCP2 took place against a backdrop of rapidly expanding cross-border e-commerce, increasingly complex global value chains, and a shift toward paperless trade that is reshaping border management. These developments create opportunities to simplify procedures, improve transparency, and shorten clearance times, while also introducing new requirements for digital infrastructure, data quality, workforce capabilities, and legal frameworks. Across APEC, economies remain at different levels of readiness for digital transformation. While some members have deployed artificial intelligence, data analytics, and electronic documentation on a large scale, many others continue to face constraints in resources, technology, and management capacity. Bridging the digital divide is therefore not merely a technical issue for individual customs administrations; it directly affects supply-chain connectivity and the inclusiveness of trade facilitation across the region.

In that spirit, the SCCP2 agenda focused on technology and innovation in customs governance; transparency, simplification, and connectivity in trade facilitation; Customs-Business partnerships; and measures to ensure secure, sustainable, and reliable trade flows. Participation by the World Customs Organization (WCO), the World Trade Organization (WTO), the ASEAN Secretariat, and APEC member economies enabled international initiatives to be discussed alongside practical implementation experience at the economy level.

Deputy Director General of Viet Nam Customs Au Anh Tuan (right) with a member of the Viet Nam Customs delegation at SCCP2.

Viet Nam Customs Shares Its Experience During the Discussion on Bridging the Digital Divide

At the meeting, Viet Nam Customs participated in the thematic panel discussion titled "Bridging the Digital Divide: Building Capacity for Trade Digitalization and Strengthening Peer Learning Across APEC Economies." Moderated by the ASEAN Secretariat, the session featured speakers from Canada, China, New Zealand, the United States, and Viet Nam.

Drawing on practical experience in the digital transformation of customs administration, the Viet Nam representative emphasized the need to strengthen institutional capacity, human resources, and digital infrastructure; promote connectivity and data sharing; and expand cooperation and technical assistance so that economies can make more effective use of digital tools. The presentation also linked digital transformation to the goals of facilitating trade, improving predictability, and reducing compliance costs for businesses.

The panel was particularly relevant to APEC customs cooperation because gaps in technology among members can translate into unequal capacity to participate in cross-border trade. Sharing experience, identifying support needs, and building collective capacity are essential if digitalization is to deliver more evenly distributed benefits, especially for developing economies and small and medium-sized enterprises.

By participating as a panelist, Viet Nam Customs not only learned from economies with advanced levels of digitalization but also contributed insights from its own domestic reform and modernization process. This engagement reflected the proactive and responsible approach of Viet Nam Customs to SCCP cooperation and reaffirmed Viet Nam's increasingly active role in policy dialogue and the exchange of experience on digital customs administration in the region.

Linking SCCP2 Outcomes to Preparations for APEC 2027

At the closing session on 24 August, Viet Nam provided an overview of the activities proposed for the SCCP in 2027. This marked the transition from China's APEC host year in 2026 to Viet Nam's APEC host year in 2027, giving member economies an early opportunity to exchange views, provide input, and prepare for the Sub-Committee's programme of cooperation.

Viet Nam will host APEC in 2027 and serve as SCCP Chair. By actively participating in the meetings, contributing directly to the thematic discussion, and presenting the proposed direction for the SCCP's 2027 activities, Viet Nam Customs gained a clearer understanding of members' priorities while building experience for its coordination and organizational responsibilities as host.

The discussions at SCCP2, particularly those on bridging the digital divide, also pointed to areas of cooperation that could be advanced in the period ahead: digital transformation must go hand in hand with capacity building, stronger connectivity, and efforts to ensure that no economy or business group is left behind. On that basis, Viet Nam Customs is well placed to serve as a connector, promote the exchange of experience, and steer SCCP initiatives toward practical outcomes that respond to the region's needs.

Through its participation in SCCP2, Viet Nam Customs continued to contribute to dialogue and experience-sharing within the APEC framework while preparing the necessary conditions to assume the role of SCCP Chair during Viet Nam's APEC host year in 2027.

Thùy Linh