Last Wednesday, December 13 of this year, in Lima, Peru, the XVII International Summit on Foreign Trade: “Digitization and the use of AI in foreign trade”, which was led by the Lima Chamber of Commerce – CCL, with the aim of reflecting and commenting on the use of new technologies in the logistics sector that provide security and better continuity of the information/documentation necessary in daily operations.
The Summit featured a group of professional experts in foreign trade and the use of new technologies who, with their contributions, were able to identify the weak and strong points in international trade, not only in Peru, but also in the LATAM region, which, unlike other regions, has managed to maintain a strong position in terms of international trade.
Likewise, the Vice Minister of Foreign Trade of Peru, Ms. Teresa Mera Gómez, participated in the Summit, highlighting the work that the Ministry of Foreign Trade has been doing to date to encourage the export of traditional and non-traditional products to markets in other regions, as well as all the incentives and facilities for the import of goods into the country. She also indicated that new technologies such as AI will mark a before and after in the operation of international trade since it will be able to provide new alternative solutions in the medium and short term.
Regarding the Summit topics, issues related to international trade and the application of new technologies and AI were analyzed, such as, for example, the use of blockchain and various types of Smart contracts.
About this, in addition to others relevant issues, the following was commented on:
- Implementation of a series of improvements for the Economic Development Zones, with the aim of prioritizing foreign merchandise operations by non-domiciled companies.
- Incorporation of new concepts and services to the Foreign Trade Logistics Services Information Module – MISLO, where any user can find information regarding the logistics services of each foreign trade operator.
- Promotion of the use of blockchain to carry out various types of actions, such as commercial transactions, with the aim that the Customs Administration can visualize all the steps from the purchase and sale to its importation into the country of destination.
- Apply AI in the execution of Smart contracts, so that AI can automatically determine the reasons for termination of the contract and the application of sanctions, if applicable, and may even involve the participation of the parties, lawyers, responsible third parties, among others.
- Automation of non-contentious customs procedures, in which the intervention of the customs officer is not necessary, so that AI can resolve and issue resolutions based on current legislation, which would reduce time and costs for administrators.
It is clear that there is still a long way to go. However, we are on the way to making AI fully applicable to all processes involved in international trade.
Lawyer graduated from the César Vallejo University, specialized in customs and foreign trade with more than 8 years of experience in customs and international trade matters, currently working at the Thorne, Echeandía & Lema Law Firm. During his experience he has worked in the provision of advisory services, auditing and representation in litigation related to customs regimes, acceptance of tariff preferences and in contentious administrative procedures related to refunds of tariff duties, among others. Among his latest works, he has served as a speaker in various institutions on customs (IDEM EDUCATION, B&T, CEFODA, VOCANTY), as well as has collaborated in the publication of various books and articles in customs magazines (ICDT of Colombia, COMEXPERU, THEMIS, ADUANANEWS of Argentina).
