Cross-border traders in ASEAN can now take advantage of a new online customs transit management system – the ASEAN Customs Transit System (ACTS) – to accelerate trade in goods by road within ASEAN by reducing trading challenges and enabling companies to benefit fully from the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and the free movement of goods across the region.

Under the ACTS, firms can make a single customs transit declaration that covers the transport of goods across multiple ASEAN countries, without the need to make repeated customs declarations or change vehicles at each border.

“The implementation of the ASEAN Customs Transit System plays a vital role in facilitating seamless movement of goods in the region. I believe the system would be an excellent tool in enhancing ASEAN’s trade and production networks as well as establishing a more unified market for its firms and consumers,” said Dato Lim Jock Hoi, the Secretary-General of ASEAN. “The ACTS could also support post COVID recovery to accelerate the transit movement of medical supplies, vaccines and Personal Protective Equipment within the Member States,” he added.

The system was developed by ASEAN with European technical expertise and EUR 10 million (over USD 12 million) financial support from the European Union under the ARISE Plus programme.