Under the TradeFIRST Framework, companies on board Singapore Customs’ schemes and licences will be rated into one of five bands: Basic, Standard, Intermediate, Enhanced and Premium.
TradeFIRST Framework TradeFIRST stands for Trade Facilitation & Integrated Risk-based SysTem. It is a one-stop assessment framework that helps make trade easy, fair and secure. It supports the trade facilitation and compliance efforts of Singapore Customs by enabling Singapore Customs to assess a company holistically, based on a single, uniform set of assessment criteria.
In a nutshell, the principle of TradeFIRST is explained in this table:
With TradeFIRST, trade will be:
Easy, with its streamlined application process for all Singapore Customs’ schemes, programmes and customised facilitation to meet companies’ unique business needs.
Fair, with a common set of clear and transparent assessment criteria and guidelines. This lets you enjoy a suite of facilitation based on a company’s banding.
Secure, allowing you to improve your company’s key systems and processes while raising the compliance and supply chain security standards of companies.
For more information on TradeFIRST, go to http://www.customs.gov.sg/leftNav/trad/TradeFIRST.htm.
Schemes and Licences
Below is a list of the schemes and licences, for your reference:
For more details, visit the Singapore Customs website at www.customs.gov.sg
ABOUT SINGAPORE CUSTOMS
Singapore Customs was re-constituted on 1 April 2003 to bring together revenue collection and enforcement, trade documentation, trade facilitation and security functions under one agency. As
Singapore’s single authority on customs and trade regulatory matters, Singapore Customs upholds customs and trade laws to build trust in Singapore’s external trading system, facilitate trade, and protect revenue.
Singapore Customs is at the crossroads of international trade and plays a proactive role in balancing the intricate requirements of trade facilitation, security, and regulatory compliance to support Singapore as a global trade hub. As the single trade regulator, Singapore Customs is well placed to collaborate with multiple stakeholders in trade, both from the public and private sectors. In performing our work, we firmly believe in facilitating legitimate trade, while simultaneously ensuring that Singapore’s trading system is not being exploited for illicit purposes. This guiding philosophy is encapsulated in Singapore Customs’ Vision, Mission and Motto, and is core to our strategic planning.
Trade Facilitation
Since 1989, Singapore Customs has been administering the TradeNet system, the world’s first national single window for trade declaration. This has facilitated trade and documentation processes, making them easy and seamless. Singapore Customs administers preferential tariffs arising from the many free trade agreements signed by Singapore for the benefit of the trading community. Singapore Customs consults and engages the trade and industry to understand customers’ needs, and offers customised solutions to the business community. We aim to lower their business compliance costs, enhance efficiency and promote business growth in Singapore.
Trade Security
Singapore Customs is the lead agency in promoting trade security and secure trade supply chains. Asia’s first supply chain security programme, the Secure Trade Partnership (STP) was launched in 2007 by Singapore Customs. We put in place a voluntary certification programme for companies that seek to adopt robust security measures in their trading operations, thereby contributing to the security of the global supply chain. We are also the lead agency for developing the APEC and World Customs Organisation (WCO) Trade Recovery Guidelines to help economies resume normal trading functions quickly in the event that supply chains are disrupted.
Trade Regulation
Singapore Customs maintains an effective and robust regulatory regime that is able to adapt quickly to the ever-changing business landscape. As a key revenue collection agency for Singapore, Singapore Customs safeguards Government revenue, ensures a level playing field for traders, and takes firm enforcement action against those who attempt to evade duties and taxes, bring in contraband goods or make fraudulent declarations. By adopting principles of risk management, Singapore Customs enables legitimate traders to trade easily and securely in Singapore. To learn more, visit www.customs.gov.sg.
Singapore Customs
55 Newton Road #10-01
Revenue House
Singapore 307987
Customs Call Centre: +65 6355 2000
Fax: +65 6250 8663