One week before the summit in Brazil, BRICS leaders formalized the creation of a Customs Center of Excellence and reaffirmed their commitment to a "fair, more inclusive, stable, and efficient" international tax agenda.
La The 17th BRICS Summit was held in Rio de Janeiro on July 6-7, 2025.The bloc, originally comprised of Brazil, the Russian Federation, India, China, and South Africa, now also includes Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
In Final statement -called Rio de Janeiro Declaration: Strengthening Global South Cooperation for a More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance-, the point 76 states:“We will continue to cooperate to promote a fair, more inclusive, stable, and efficient international tax system fit for the 21st century. We reiterate our commitment to tax transparency and to promoting global dialogue on effective and fair taxation, increasing progressivity, and contributing to efforts to reduce inequality.”. The BRICS countries also expressed their goal: "Deepen global coordination among tax authorities, improve domestic revenue mobilization, ensure a fair allocation of taxation rights, and combat tax evasion and tax-related illicit financial flows..
En customs matter, the statement highlighted the implementation of the Joint Action Plan for the mutual recognition of Authorised Economic Operator programmes (OEA), and celebrated:“An important step forward in customs cooperation is the establishment of the BRICS Customs Centers of Excellence and the development of Smart Customs, which we will continue to promote"
According to Chinese state television (CCTV) and WAM news agency, the Customs Center of Excellence was officially opened on July 6 at the Xiamen City, Fujian Province, East China. The center has a training platform and website dedicated to the digitalization of processes, the use of smart technologies, and technical cooperation between administrations.
Finally, Brazil transferred the Pro Tempore Presidency of the bloc to India, which made the commitment to deepen integration and promote digital transformation in nations, exercising leadership of the BRICS during the 2025–2026 cycle.
Access the noticia already the so-called Rio de Janeiro Declaration.
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