The Sixth Meeting of the Experts Committee on Customs Matters (ECCM) held on 9-10 November 2000 in Bali, Indonesia was attended by representatives from ASEAN member countries. The discussion was focused on the Asean Customs Policy Implementation and Work Programme (PIWP) which covered the areas of customs post clearance audit, cargo processing, customs valuation and green lane, WTO rules of origin, drafting of the Asean Harmonized Tariff Nomenclature (AHTN), facilitation of goods in transit, automation, enforcement, among others. The highlight of the meeting was the Third Informal ECCM-Japan Consultations wherein the delegations of Japan Customs announced the expansion of its technical cooperation program including the training courses available to ASEAN Members. The next meeting was tentatively scheduled in April 2001 at the ASEAN Secretariat, Jakarta, Indonesia.

    The third Workshop on the ASEAN Harmonised Tariff Nomenclature (AHTN) held on 6-8 November 2000 in Bali, Indonesia was attended by representatives from ASEAN member countries. The meeting reviewed follow-up actions from the 2nd AHTN Workshop and discussed specific subheadings of Chapters 64 to 97 of the third AHTN draft (Revision 1C). Finalisation of the AHTN text and supplementary explanatory notes is expected to be accomplished on the next workshop scheduled in February 2001.