Liberia Revenue Authority, DHL Sign MOU On Trade Facilitation

DHL Country Manager Mohamed Cherif (left) LRA Customs Commissioner Saa Saamoi exchanging copies of the signed MOU Monday morning and the LRA HQ in Paynesville

(Monrovia – February 6, 2023): The Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), through its Customs Department, and DHL International Liberia on Monday (Feb 6) signed a trade facilitation agreement at the LRA Headquarters in Paynesville.

Trade facilitation is a World Trade Organization (WTO) instrument that removes barriers and paves the way for expediting the movement, release and clearance of goods, including goods in transit.

Monday’s MOU is intended to strengthen an effective partnership between the LRA and DHL that facilitates the movement, release and postal clearance of certain category of goods in accordance with the WTO Trade and Facilitation Agreement (TFA).

Customs Commissioner Saa Saamoi emphasized that with the MOU in place, the LRA Customs will henceforth examine all DHL consignments – shipment and transshipment – to ensure compliance with Customs regulations.

He said the MOU is part of the De Minimis Threshold of the TFA.  The De Minimis Threshold mandates WTO member states to set minimum shipment values or basic amount payable in taxes on certain consignments.

LRA Customs and DHL staff moments following the signing of the MOU

“The MOU is just the beginning, but I believe that DHL and LRA will achieve the objectives of this agreement which is intend to share resources, best practice guidance and cooperate generally to facilitate development, transparency and increased efficiency in customs-clearing related functions by all stakeholders,” Commissioner Saamoi said.

DHL Country Manager, Mohamed Cherif, lauded the LRA for the MOU which, he said, stands as a tool to ensure a transparent and beneficial clearance process.

Meanwhile, German Ambassador to Liberia, Dr. Jakob Haselhuber, expressed his joy for what he termed as “the wonderful happening” between the two prominent institutions which is part of efforts to contribute to good business climate in the country.

This MOU is the result of an amendment to Liberia’s Customs Modernization Policy and Trade Facilitation Agreement ratified by the National Legislature recently.

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About Joel Cholo Brooks 14013 Articles
Joel Cholo Brooks is a Liberian journalist who previously worked for several international news outlets including the BBC African Service. He is the CEO of the Global News Network which publishes two local weeklies, The Star and The GNN-Liberia Newspapers. He is a member of the Press Union Of Liberia (PUL) since 1986, and several other international organizations of journalists, and is currently contributing to the South Africa Broadcasting Corporation as Liberia Correspondent.
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