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Bureau of Customs and Philippine Chamber of Customs Brokers, Inc. agreed to review Customs Administrative Order 01-2001, which sets legal brokerage fee rates based on shipment dutiable value
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The review is intended to update the policy and ensure its relevance in today’s trade environment
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CAO No. 01-2001 mandates the legal professional service fees for customs brokers based on the dutiable value of shipments
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The BOC and customs brokerage sector will establish mechanisms for regular dialogue, consultations, and policy recommendations
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The administrative order has governed professional service fee rates for customs brokers since 2001 and is now under review for continued relevance in today’s trade environment
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Philippine Chamber of Customs Brokers, Inc (PCCBI) agreed to review Customs Administrative Order (CAO) 01-2001, which sets legal brokerage fee rates based on shipment dutiable value.
They will revisit the 25-year-old administrative order governing professional service fees, a move that signals a broader push to modernize the regulatory framework underpinning Philippine trade facilitation, BOC said in a news release.
The move comes following a dialogue on May 29, where PCCBI and BOC officials – led by Customs commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno – reaffirmed their commitment to collaborative governance and stakeholder engagement.
Under CAO 01-2001, the exact professional service fees per entry are computed based on the dutiable value of the shipment, a tiered structure that has remained largely unchanged since its issuance more than two decades ago, even as trade volumes, digital systems, and the complexity of customs transactions have evolved significantly.
The meeting produced other key agreements. Beyond the review of CAO 01-2001, the BOC and PCCBI committed to establish a formal mechanisms for regular dialogue, consultation, and the exchange of policy recommendations between the bureau and the customs brokerage sector, a move aimed at institutionalizing industry participation in regulatory reform.
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Nepomuceno underscored the vital role of customs brokers in advancing customs modernization and trade facilitation.
“Through continuous dialogue and collaboration, we can build a customs system that is more efficient, transparent, and responsive to the needs of the trading community and the Filipino people,” he said.
CAO 01-2001 is the legal basis for the professional fees that licensed customs brokers charge their clients in the Philippines. It prescribes a schedule of standard rates per import or export entry, with fees scaled according to the dutiable value of the shipment, meaning the higher the declared value of the goods, the higher the corresponding brokerage fee. The order was designed to protect both brokers and importers by setting a transparent, uniform fee baseline across the industry.— Michael Barcas
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